The American Heart Association has awarded wellness grants to 69 schools across 37 states to address the growing health crisis affecting American children, where only 1 in 4 children gets the recommended daily physical activity and approximately 1 in 3 is overweight or obese according to research published at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303. These grants provide critical resources to support healthier learning environments through the Association's Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge initiatives.
The grants enable schools to purchase physical education equipment, upgrade playgrounds, install water filling stations, and provide counseling services that directly impact student and staff health. Lee Shapiro, J.D., volunteer chair of the board of the American Heart Association, emphasized that "Healthy living should be possible no matter where you live. Every school has unique needs, and these grants provide resources that support students, staff and their communities based on their unique needs—whether that's through enhancing nutrition, increasing activity or improving mental well-being."
This initiative reaches more than 10 million students in approximately 20,000 American schools annually, teaching participants and their families essential health skills including proper nutrition, stress management, tobacco and vaping avoidance, and recognizing heart attack and stroke warning signs. The program also introduces students to Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill that children as young as nine can learn and use during cardiac emergencies.
The significance of this program extends beyond immediate health improvements, addressing long-term public health concerns documented in research such as the study available at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2836060 which examines trends in children's mortality, chronic conditions, and obesity. By investing in school-based wellness programs, the American Heart Association aims to create sustainable health improvements that can reduce future healthcare costs and improve quality of life for generations.
All schools participating in the Kids Heart Challenge or American Heart Challenge are eligible to apply for these grants, which are awarded multiple times each school year. Schools interested in participating can learn more about the 2025–26 school year opportunities through the Association's official channels.
