MVP Health Care Announces 750,000 in Grants to Build Outdoor Fitness Courts in Partnership with National Fitness Campaign

MVP Health Care (MVP) and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today announced the launch of a statewide partnership to build ten to fifteen, state-of-the-art outdoor Fitness Courts across communities in New York and Vermont. The MVP Health Care Fitness Courts will be built in easily accessible public spaces beginning in 2022. 

The fitness court is a free, outdoor 7-minute full-body workout system, for adults of all ages and fitness levels. A part of an effort launched by NFC to activate public spaces, encourage a healthy lifestyle, and create equitable access to outdoor exercise programs, the fitness court will be a pillar of exercise throughout both states and builds on the success of MVP’s initial Fitness Court, which launched in the City of Rochester in 2019. 

“The launch of the MVP Health Care Fitness Courts is a monumental step towards providing access to resources that can forever change the trajectory of someone’s health and wellness journey,” said MVP Health Care’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Del Vecchio. “As a leading health care services company serving the Northeast, investing in our local communities and offering new, innovative, and exciting options like the Fitness Court, reinforces our commitment to giving back to the people and places we call home. We are proud to partner with NFC to bring this unique opportunity to New York and Vermont and look forward to seeing you on the Fitness Courts.” 

MVP and NFC are asking local governments or universities who are interested in having a Fitness Court in their city or on their campus, to apply for funding to support building a fitness court in their community. Awardees will receive a wellness toolkit, education, design resources to assist in planning, funding, building, and launching their outdoor Fitness Court from MVP and NFC.  

Members of the community will also have access to digital coaching on the free Fitness Court app, which acts as a how-to guide and a “personal coach in your pocket”. This self-guided mobile support makes it easy for users to learn how to stay fit in just 7 minutes a day—moving at their own pace and level of ability. Content is available for both individuals and groups to use on the Fitness Court. 

“The National Fitness Campaign is proud to welcome MVP Health Care as its state sponsor in New York and Vermont,” said Mitch Menaged, Founder of the NFC. “This program will deliver tremendous resources to contribute to the important mission of fighting obesity and improving health outcomes as the network of Fitness Courts grows across the state. We look forward to working with MVP Health Care to make this campaign a great success.” 

MVP and NFC will begin accepting applications today through November 15, 2021, for grant funding to support building Fitness Courts in local communities. To learn more about National Fitness Campaign and how to apply for funding, New York applicants can visit, www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/NewYork or and Vermont applicants can visit, www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/Vermont.