Gift to Clemson to support health, wellness programs for South Carolina school children

CLEMSON, SC – January 12, 2010 –  Clemson University President James F. Barker Tuesday announced a major gift that expands the school’s relationship with an Upstate development company to support a program aimed at improving the health and wellness of school children across the Carolinas.

The Cliffs Communities and its foundations, led by founder and CEO Jim Anthony, have made a $3 million pledge and given all rights to the Zest Quest program and name to Clemson University. The Youth Learning Institute (YLI), a unit of Clemson Public Service Activities based in Pickens, will manage the program.

Created by the Cliffs in 2004, Zest Quest employs and assigns full-time wellness coaches to work at partnering schools. The coaches educate and encourage children, teachers and their families to develop “healthy choice” lifestyles by adopting better diet and exercise habits. Zest Quest now serves 5,500 students in 12 elementary schools — 11 in South Carolina and one in Asheville, N.C. According to Zest Quest Director Patsy Smith, more than 10,000 individuals have been served since the program began.

“Clemson is very grateful to Jim Anthony for his vision, generosity and commitment to the people of South Carolina and his faith in this institution,” Barker said. “Zest Quest fits perfectly with Clemson’s historical role as a land-grant university engaged in outreach and extension work with local communities and young people.”

Barker added that Zest Quest becomes a part of the university’s legacy of programs that have served youth and families for more than 100 years.

Anthony’s primary expectation with the gift of Zest Quest to Clemson is the program’s expansion to elementary schools and through other venues.

“These are exciting days as we launch the Zest Quest program to new heights, striving to reach the goal of raising more health-conscious, vibrant young people who have the prospect of living longer, better lives,” said Anthony. “The Youth Learning Institute’s passion for kids and its statewide influence and operational channels in every county make it not only a logical choice, but more importantly the right choice to take the Zest Quest program to the next level.”

“YLI is humbled to be Mr. Anthony’s chosen steward for such an awesome gift. Programs like Zest Quest are critically needed to respond to the growing rate of serious health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity, among children in South Carolina and throughout the nation,” said Youth Learning Institute Executive Director Jorge Calzadilla.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of obese children ages 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past 20 years and the number of obese adolescents more than tripled.

Results from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate that an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are overweight. Studies also report that one in seven low-income, preschool-aged children is obese.

Calzadilla said Zest Quest has been approved as the official curriculum for the Youth Learning Institute to use as part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s nutrition education initiative (SNAP-Ed) offered under the auspices of the S.C. Department of Social Services. As part of this initiative, the institute also will partner with the state departments of education and health and environmental control and use such public service networks as the state 4-H program and Clemson’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program to serve students in Title I schools across the state. The institute already has made strides toward accomplishing the goal to expand Zest Quest.

“The 2010 SNAP-Ed Plan gives South Carolina the potential to draw down over $2 million for nutrition education services for eligible children and families. It also gives us the chance to make Zest Quest available to thousands more children across the state this year.” said Calzadilla.

The Youth Learning Institute will establish the Center for Healthy Living, directed by professor Katherine Cason of Clemson’s food science and human nutrition department. The center’s purpose is to ensure the effective collaboration of all health and wellness initiatives and resources managed by the insitute.

The relationship between Clemson and The Cliffs spans several years and includes partnerships and support for students and faculty researchers in horticulture, landscape architecture and turf grass management. Two years ago, Anthony and The Cliffs announced plans to invest in Clemson and in improving education in South Carolina by donating 350 acres of land and other resources to develop the state’s first Teacher Renewal Center.