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Newsflash:

National Family Fitness Day May 12

Published May 5, 2008

Xbox 360® is teaming up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to celebrate the first-ever National Family Fitness Day on May 12. National Family Fitness Day is a free, fun-filled event designed to promote healthy and active lifestyles for children and families. The key fitness activity will be playing the game Dance Dance Revolution® UNIVERSE 2 from Konami, the leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties.  To help encourage families to get involved, supermodel, health guru, and mother of three Christie Brinkley, and health expert and physician Dr. Carlon Colker will commence the activities at theChildren's Aid Society's Dunlevy Milbank Center Boys & Girls Club, New York.

Boys & Girls Clubs in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Seattle will all join in to start a new revolution in this after-school event by playing Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE 2 on Xbox 360. This activity, coupled with healthy tips provided by Dr. Colker, will showcase how families can connect with each other and exercise in a way that is fun. The BGCA aims to reach the goal of having 500 participants and burning 18,000 calories while playing at the clubs.

Dance off those calories by playing a dancing game.

"We are proud to partner with Xbox 360 for National Family Fitness Day, which showcases the fact that getting fit can also mean having fun," said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of BGCA. "Playing active games not only encourages kids to get in shape, but also helps bring families together and enhances Triple Play, our existing health and wellness program."Triple Play was created through support from The Coca-Cola Company and Kraft Foods Inc., and is designed to improve young people's knowledge of healthy habits, good nutrition and physical fitness; increase the numbers of hours per day they participate in physical activities; and strengthen their ability to interact positively with others and engage in healthy relationships.

Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, noted, "Playing Dance Dance Revolution is one of many ways families can get up off the couch and have fun together."

"Making sure that my children stay active and healthy is my top priority," supermodel Christie Brinkley says, "My children and I love to find new and exciting ways to get up and get moving, and playing games lets my kids have fun and get fit at the same time. And I have to admit, I have a blast playing it too."

Dr. Carlon Colker, a trainer of top-tier professional athletes, recognizes the health benefits that such games can provide, and he offers the following health tips for families:

• Shop healthy and cook at home. Buy fresh, perishable and unpackaged foods whenever possible. If ingredient contents sound too complicated, it is probably not a healthy choice. Get the whole family involved in meal preparation. It can be fun time spent together, and it is certainly healthier than fast-food alternatives.
• Check out your local community center. Places such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America offer great physical activities for children, including soccer, baseball, swimming, and even physical videogaming. The supervision is top-notch and the cost is reasonable.
• Keep tabs on your physical activities. Whether it is having a family activity list on the refrigerator, or even setting the Family Timer on your Xbox 360 so that you know when you have hit your activity goal, keep track of your activities and reward progress.
• Keep a structured bedtime. You cannot expect your kids to have an active lifestyle if they are tired all the time.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has been changing and saving young lives, providing hope and opportunity for kids who need it most. Today, more than 4,000 Clubs serve some 4.8 million young people across the country and on U.S. military bases throughout the world. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for young people 6–18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. In communities large and small, Clubs provide opportunities that positively impact lives and create the productive, caring citizens and leaders of tomorrow. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach. According to a recent Harris survey of Club alumni, 57 percent believe the Club saved their life.

About Konami

Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. Konami's titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Castlevania, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on their official website.