IN West Mifflin Spring 2014 | Page 6

in the ticket or sponsorship information, contact the western Pennsylvania chapter of JDRF at 412.471.1414, extension 7, or visit westernpa. jdrf.org. FITZGERALD LAUNCHES LIVE WELL ALLEGHENY CAMPAIGN LOOP What’s news in West Mifflin GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP PENNSYLVANIA Join over 4 million volunteers in the nation’s largest annual community improvement program! Get involved in your community and register your event today. Registered events receive FREE cleanup supplies which includes, bags, gloves and vests, donated by PennDOT, the Dept. of Environmental Protection and Keep America Beautiful. Free disposal is also available during Pick It Up PA Days, April 12 – May 5, sponsored by the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association and participating landfills. To register, visit the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania website at gacofpa. org, or contact Michelle Dunn at 877.772.3672 x113, or [email protected]. JDRF’S ANNUAL RAINBOW GALA JDRF’s 22nd annual Rainbow Gala will be held Saturday, April 12, 2014, at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh. This year’s gala will honor Arthur J. Rooney, II, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Corporate chairs are Leo W. Gerard, international president of United Steelworkers and David J. Malone, president and CEO of Gateway Financial. JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The goal of JDRF research is to improve the lives of all people affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating, and preventing T1D. Over the years, the Rainbow Gala has raised more than $16 million for promising T1D research. Nearly 800 people attended the 2013 gala which was voted one of Pittsburgh’s best parties of the year. For 4 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | West Mifflin County Executive Rich Fitzgerald has launched a comprehensive, innovative campaign promoting wellness called Live Well Allegheny which will be led by the Board of Health and Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker. Dr. Hacker and the Board of Health have already identified a group of stakeholders who will assist in identifying areas of strengths and challenges. They will work with the campaign to strategically plan activities and events related to obesity prevention and physical activity promotion. The initial goals of the campaign are broad to respond to trends, data and statistics brought to bear by the Health Department and its stakeholders, but its initial focus will be on implementing an anti-obesity campaign, providing education and developing partnerships. Specifically, the Live Well Allegheny campaign intends to track childhood obesity and visit school districts to support evidence-based practices. A referral resource which can point individuals, including medical providers, to programs and resources by zip code is in development and is expected to be ready this summer. The campaign has also set a goal of partnering on or hosting physical activity events at least six times a year. Recognizing that behavior change requires a cultural change, the Live Well Allegheny campaign will be part of that change by promoting and highlighting events and programs of partners in the effort. While the Health Department has already begun outreach to a number of those organizations in the county, those interested in joining the campaign are encouraged to contact the Health Department by phone at 412.687.2243, e-mail at livewell@achd. net or by visiting the campaign’s website at LiveWellAllegheny.com. Future plans for the campaign include activities in all 130 municipalities, the 90 neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh and the 43 school districts that call Allegheny County home. The campaign also envisions offering screenings, alternative fitness activities, healthy cooking demonstrations, tips on stress management and more which are also focused on residents of all ages.