Students and Faculty Receive Opportunity to Get Fit

SCHILLER PARK, Ill., Oct. 22, 2009 – Horlick High School, located in Racine, Wis., has received $140,000 in product donations from Life Fitness and Connor Sport Court, in an effort to improve the lives of the school’s students and faculty. This donation is an extension of the Life Fitness “Take the Pledge” program that encourages educators and children to participate in, and commit to aerobic activity. Horlick High School is the sixth recipient of the company’s outreach, and the first in Wisconsin.

According to the Center for Disease Control, obesity is one the most pressing health concerns for children, with approximately 18 million, 6-19 year olds in the United States overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. It affects much more than just a child’s appearance, it also takes a toll on their health, self-esteem, grades and school attendance. According to activelivingresearch.org, youth who are more physically active tend to retain information better and perform better academically, have higher self-esteem and confidence, and maintain better school attendance, for example.

“At Life Fitness, we are passionate about helping people live healthier lives, and this donation allows us to provide our youth with the opportunity to make the lifelong commitment to fitness early on,” said Mark McCleary, vice president of global marketing and brand management for Life Fitness. “We are honored to be able to work with Connor Sport Court and Racine Unified, to help us spread this message and give back to the community.”

Over the last few months, the school’s old workout room underwent an extensive makeover, thanks to Life Fitness and Connor Sport Court.High School Receives Gift of Fitness Connor Sport Court donated 7,000 square feet of their prestigious SportRoll flooring, while Life Fitness provided high-tech strength equipment, including Hammer Strength, and state-of-the-art cardio machines from the company’s premier line, The Elevation Series. The treadmills, Lifecycle Exercise Bikes and Elliptical Cross-Trainers feature iPod compatibility, USB connectivity to create, store and track workout information, a Virtual Trainer to motivate and encourage, and vibrant Workout Landscape Perspectives.

“We’re thrilled to be able to give back to the students and staff of Horlick High School, and believe that this center will help to improve their lives,” said David Smith, director of corporate accounts for Connor Sport Court.

The school will also receive a 10-week “Take the Pledge” fitness challenge that will be undertaken by both the students and the faculty. The fitness program encourages students to participate in, and commit to, aerobic activity, with clearly outlined daily recommended exercises and nutrition tips, promoting progression and success.

“The Horlick High School community is very excited and humbled to have been chosen as a recipient of a new fitness center. Thanks to the generous donations of Connor Sport Court and Life Fitness, we will be able to improve the quality of life for our students and staff. We are looking forward to being healthier in our lifestyle choices here at Horlick High,” said Angela Ress Apmann, directing principal of Horlick High School.

The ground-breaking, 7,000-square-foot fitness center will be unveiled on Oct. 22 by dignitaries from the community, Life Fitness and Connor Sport Court. The Life Fitness Academy, the training and education arm of Life Fitness, will kick-off the “Take the Pledge” challenge by leading exercise drills for more than 35 students.


About Life Fitness
Life Fitness is the global leader in providing fitness equipment. The company manufactures and sells strength and cardiovascular equipment under the brand names Life Fitness and Hammer Strength and distributes its equipment in more than 120 countries. Headquartered outside Chicago, in Schiller Park, Ill., Life Fitness is a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC).


About the Racine Unified School District:
Racine Unified is Wisconsin’s fourth largest public school district, serving roughly 21,800 students at 34 schools with approximately 3,300 employees. District student achievement is guided by its North Star mission; prepare students to be career ready or college bound upon graduation. For additional information, please visit www.racine.k12.wi.us.

About Connor Sport Court International
More athletic events are played on Connor Sport Court surfaces than on any other sports flooring in the world. Connor sports floors have established themselves as the standard for professional and collegiate sports since the company was founded in 1872. Sport Court® is a registered trade mark of Connor Sport Court International. Since 1974, it has identified the original and authentic modular sport surface, continuously improved and patented to provide the highest levels of quality, safety and performance. Connor Sport Court is proud to be independently audited and verified as a Zero Waste and ISO 9001:2008 certified company.
For more Connor Sport Court information contact: Jeff Morton, Marketing Manager, Connor Sport Court, 801-712-6411.



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