Lakers Join Partnership to Improve Kids Health

The Los Angeles Lakers announced Sunday that they will join California's three other NBA teams in being part of the Active Alliance, a partnership designed to improve health in children through exercise, nutrition and education.

The partnership also includes the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings, The California Endowment, a private health foundation, and HealthCorps, an organization co-founded by the talk show host known as Dr. Oz that seeks to help high school students make healthier life choices.

The NBA teams will have players and coaches go to schools to exercise with students, talk to them about nutrition and health, provide students incentives to improve their health and give health tips they can share with their families, according to Kathlyn Mead, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The California Endowment.

The teams will also revamp abandoned yards into playgrounds and basketball courts.

The Active Alliance differs from other children's health programs because of the involvement of NBA players, Mead said at Staples Center news conference before Sunday night's Lakers-Kings game.

"It's really about the kids recognizing a sports celebrity and having that celebrity influence the kids," Mead said.

- City News Service