The Orioles and Sarasota County Schools invite the media to cover Opening Day for a new collaboration to encourage healthy lifestyles among middle school-aged children in Sarasota County. The Orioles Health & Fitness Challenge, which was developed in partnership with Health Fit Powered by Sarasota Memorial, will launch on Tuesday, January 19, to teach students about the importance of physical fitness, healthy eating, and tobacco-free living.
The six-week program will be offered in nine county schools for approximately 4,000 students in grades six through eight. Students will participate in a variety of health and fitness challenges, including exercises to build endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, and balance, plus a healthy eating goal. Sarasota County Physical Education teachers will present the program during regular school hours.
After each week is completed, participating students will receive an Orioles-themed prize. Students who complete the entire six-week challenge will receive two complimentary tickets to an Orioles Spring Training game this season and vouchers for complimentary concessions at a new "Orioles Fit!" healthy-food stand at Ed Smith Stadium.
"The Orioles Health & Fitness Challenge offers students from Sarasota County Schools a unique opportunity to learn how to eat, train, and live like world-class athletes," said JOHN ANGELOS, Orioles Executive Vice President. "Through a variety of community outreach initiatives in Sarasota County and in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Orioles promote active lifestyles and healthy choices. We are committed to investing in the long-term health and habits of future generations through the excitement of Orioles Baseball."
"We're delighted to join forces with the Orioles to help keep our students fit and remind them of the importance of a healthy lifestyle," said KAREN ROSE, Sarasota County Schools Executive Director of Middle Schools. "The middle school years are a great time to reinforce these lessons, and this program hits a home run by doing that in fun, interactive ways."  
The Health & Fitness Challenge is part of Sarasota 365, a host of initiatives through which the Baltimore Orioles and OriolesREACH demonstrate the ballclub's year-round engagement with the Greater Sarasota community. Whether hosting youth activities, participating in charitable causes, or partnering in efforts to boost the local economy, the Orioles are active in the region all year long, proving that their commitment to the club's southern home goes far beyond baseball.