FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NB3 Foundation Media Contact: April Hale at april@nb3f.org or 505-867-0775 or 505-728-0760
NACA Media Contact: Azella Humetewa at humetewa_a@nacaschool.org or 505-266-0992

NB3 Foundation Launches National Water Challenge
Albuquerque school is one of many challenge sites across the country.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—October 30, 2017—At a press conference today, the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, an advocate for Native youth health and fitness, invited tribes, communities, organizations, families and individuals to take the Zero to 60 Challenge – cutting out sugary beverages and drinking up to 60 ounces of water each day for the entire month of November.

“The Zero to 60 Challenge is a positive opportunity for Native youth, families and everyone to make healthier choices and instill healthy habits,” said NB3 Foundation President/CEO Justin Kii Huenemann. “It’s not enough to just talk about the health challenges facing our tribal families and communities, we all have to be involved in direct action opportunities, like the Zero to 60 Challenge, that inspires positive behavioral change.”

NB3 Foundation partnered with the Native American Community Academy (NACA) as a Zero to 60 Challenge site. All students and faculty will be taking the challenge and tracking their progress at the school.

“At NACA, we use a Wellness Wheel to set our goals around our health and wellbeing, which includes eating healthy, drinking more water and staying active. The Zero to 60 Challenge definitely mirrors our school’s efforts to being a healthy community,” said NACA Head of School Anpao Duta Flying Earth. “The partnership with the NB3 Foundation is a great example of community engagement and education for our Native youth.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are the leading sources of sugar in the average American diet. Soda and other SSBs can lead to weight gain, diabetes, bone loss, heart disease and poor dental health.

NB3 Foundation’s Water First! Cohort partners are also taking the challenge. The cohort is NB3 Foundation grant recipients that are advocating against SSBs and promoting drinking more water in their respective communities. The partners are: Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE), Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Jemez Pueblo, Santo Domingo Pueblo, STAR School, Ramah Navajo School Board, Tamaya Wellness Center and Zuni Youth Enrichment Project.

“The NB3 Foundation is happy to partner with NACA and other challenge sites across the country on this tough yet exciting challenge. Starting on November 1, the challenge is on!” added Huenemann.

Learn more about the Zero to 60 Challenge, at: http://www.nb3foundation.org/zero-to-60/.

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About the Notah Begay III Foundation
The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation is a national, award-winning Native American nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing Native American childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. The NB3 Foundation invests in evidence-based, community-driven and culturally relevant programs that promote health, physical activity and nutrition, ensuring healthy futures for Native American children and their communities. We are committed to ensuring that all Native American youth live healthy, happy and fulfilled lives. Learn more about the NB3 Foundation at: www.nb3foundation.org.

About Native American Community Academy
The Native American Community Academy mission is to engage students, educators, families, and community in creating a school that will prepare our students to grow from adolescence to adulthood and begin strengthening communities by developing strong leaders who are academically prepared, secure in their identity and healthy. Learn more about NACA at: www.nacaschool.org
Notah Begay III Foundation
290 Prairie Star Rd. | Santa Ana Pueblo, NM | 87004