Energy Friends’ News and Events

March 2007 Dallas, TX – Dallas Public Library signs Energy Friends’ co-creator Kelly Bennett to facilitate a series of seminars:  Seminar 1: “Fun with Fitness,” and Seminar 2: “Overcoming Healthy Choice Challenges with Children.”  The first is designed for young children (ages 3-6) and it’s an interactive presentation that educates children on the importance of healthy eating and staying active.  The second is designed for parents/caretakers and it is also interactive. Group discussion provides answers on how to overcome “picky eater” challenges and inactivity challenges with children. 

May 2006 Dallas, TX– Energy Friends is listed on  www.schoolhealth.info – a website for public school curriculums that offers resources and services to support healthy lifestyle habits for children.

October 2007 - North Texas Kids newspaper featured editorial entitled, "Is Your Child a Picky Eater?"

September 2007 - North Texas Kids newspaper featured editorial entitled, "Fall Fitness Tips"

June 2007 - Channel 8 (WFAA) interviews Energy Friends’ President and co-creator, Kelly Bennett. Air date 7/5/07 on Daybreak morning show, Midday News and TXCN

July 2006 - Dallas Women’s Journal interviews co-creator Kelly Bennett for its’  Health & Wellness section, “New Heroes Emerge to Battle Childhood Obesity”

June 2006 – Energy Friends is featured in Dallas Child Magazine and Ft. Worth Child Magazine:  Takenote:  Health & Safety, “Energy Friends Help Kids Get Fit”

April 2006 – Bent Tree People Newspaper interviews co-creator Jason Huston , “Energy is Your Friend”

April 2006 – “Mommies with Style” online newsletter features Energy Friends program as a great rainy day activity to get kids moving indoors.

March 2006 - People Newspapers interviews co-creator Kelly Bennett (Bluffview People section), “Energy Friends Entertain While They Train Children”

November 2005 – KVIL radio interviews Energy Friends’ co-creator Kelly Bennett on the “Gene and Julie Morning Show”

NEW HEROES EMERGE TO BATTLE CHILDHOOD OBESITY

DALLAS, TX – October 24, 2005 – Energy Friends releases it’s first DVD, “Energy Friends - Fun with Fitness”, for online sales today at www.energyfriends.org. The DVD has been developed in part to instruct children on the importance of maintaining physical fitness and healthy eating habits, but mainly to teach kids these things can be achieved while having fun. “Our goal is to empower children ages 3-7 by teaching them how to make positive, healthy choices so they feel good both physically and mentally,” said co-creator Kelly Bennett, a former elementary and early childhood teacher. “The only way we’ll win the battle on childhood obesity and other health challenges is by teaching our children how to make healthy lifestyle choices.”

The 40-minute DVD offers children a fun and interactive alternative with a hidden educational message. “We’ve found that you just can’t preach to kids; they don’t like sitting through programs that are strictly educational. That’s why we’ve combined education with entertainment.  We created Energy Friends because we want kids to have fun while learning about health and fitness,” said co-creator Jason Huston.

Energy Friends is lead by the fun and energetic Ellie Energy, sporting a bright yellow cape with red boots and gloves. Ellie’s sidekick, Roscoe T. Hippo, a six-foot muscle-bound blue hippopotamus, and the Energy Friends, a group of kids in bright colorful costumes, complete the ensemble. Together they educate children on nutritious food choices, exercise, and healthy lifestyle habits through original song and dance. “Kids have a blast and love the characters,” said Huston. “We’ve only received positive responses from children and parents.”

The creative characters and essential skills to healthy living that are taught in this fun and energizing DVD can also be accompanied by a music CD with seven original songs. “The songs are catchy, too – we’re sure you’ll walk away with a few songs stuck in your head,” said Huston. The songs from the DVD vary from “Stretch, Stretch, Stretch” to “My Pyramid,” an original song based on the newly released USDA My Pyramid program, which replaced the Food Pyramid.

“As a parent of two small children, I’m deeply concerned about childhood health issues and inactivity,” said Bennett. “Childhood obesity can lead to TYPEII Diabetes and other health issues later in life. The best way to fight back is through diet and exercise. Achieving an active and healthy lifestyle is crucial and habits learned early will likely remain with a person into adulthood.”

Other children’s programs have skimmed the surface of nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices, but Energy Friends feels mainstream television isn’t doing enough. “Energy Friends is committed 100% to battling childhood obesity and inactivity. This problem can’t be cured with one episode,” said Bennett. Energy Friends currently has other projects in the works and looks forward to developing a television series in the near future.

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