Press Room

AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 49
Ballot Measure Increases State Grant Funds for Before And After School Programs

Posted: Oct 30, 2002 in

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Oct. 30, 2002 – The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s nonprofit fitness advocate, today endorsed California General Election Proposition 49, sponsored and developed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The ballot measure increases state grant funds for before and after school programs, providing tutoring, homework assistance, educational enrichment and physical fitness opportunities.

“A viable after school program can significantly change the life of any kid in America,” said Ken Germano, American Council on Exercise executive director and founder of Operation FitKids. “Proposition 49 will help our nation's youth live healthy active lives. Providing over $400 million in direct grants to elementary and junior high schools, these funds can only be used for after school programs.”

Since 1979, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been committed to helping at risk-kids flourish in their academic, cultural and athletic endeavors. Schwarzenegger’s experience includes President George H. W. Bush’s Council on Physical Fitness, serving as a global ambassador to the Special Olympics and establishment of his own after school programs, Inner-City Games and Arnold’s All Stars.

Schwarzenegger adopted ACE’s Operation FitKids as an arm of his national Inner City Games effort. Through the use of donated commercial fitness equipment, Operation FitKids provides fitness facilities to communities in need.

Proposition 49 makes every public, elementary, middle/junior high school, including charter schools, eligible for after school grants ranging from $50,000-$75,000. Providing priority for additional funding to schools with predominately low-income students, the ballot measure requires that new funding not be taken from education funding.

About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s Authority on Fitness, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. As the nation’s “workout watchdog,” ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness professionals and is the world’s largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at www.acefitness.org.