A World Fit For Kids! (WFIT) Teen Mentors in Motion℠ (MiM) Program provides healthy behaviors and personal empowerment training, job shadowing, and internship opportunities to increase teen participants' self-awareness and strengthen their interpersonal skills.

Recently, 107 teens from four high school sites decided to spend their holiday break participating in WFIT's Teen MiM training program to become the next generation of healthy behaviors mentors and role models, giving them a new sense of self-respect and confidence. To apply what they’ve learned, these students also committed to a minimum of 24 hours of job shadowing, community service and nine weekly follow-up training sessions. After completing the service-learning component, students have the opportunity to apply for a 6-month internship to serve as leaders in healthy behaviors afterschool programming and gain invaluable work experience. Equipped with WFIT training and experience, these teens are building their capacity to succeed in school, work and life.

As a MiM teen program alumnus, Edgar Morales became involved with WFIT as a sophomore at Santee Education Complex. At that time, he spoke very little English and his accent made him too uneasy to talk with others or express himself in school.

“I would get nervous when called upon in class,” Edgar said. “But I focused on my World Fit training and it empowered me and gave me energy.”

Edgar is now a sophomore at California State University, Los Angeles, with a double major in civil engineering and international business and a minor in mathematics. He plans to achieve his PhD and work for a civil engineering company before starting his own company.

Edgar still volunteers as a group leader with WFIT's teen trainings and often speaks to students about his own experiences, opportunities and life goals. Edgar remembers what it was like to be a teen WFIT MiM participant when he speaks to high school students: “I see myself in them. When I train, it feels good – together we create a family.”

This is only one example of a motivated WFIT student who has changed his life and is now making a difference in his community. Your contributions assist us in bringing this transformational training, experience and opportunity to additional young people just like Edgar. Thanks for your support! 

Aetna Foundation Supports 
WFIT's Mentors in Motion℠ Program

To help WFIT continue providing healthy behaviors and personal empowerment trainings to many more young people like Edgar, the Aetna Foundation recently provided WFIT with a $20,000 grant to support the Mentors in Motion (MiM) Program that directly addresses childhood obesity in low-income, minority communities of Greater Los Angeles. Through the MiM program, WFIT provides much-needed expertise and professional development opportunities to those who have the greatest impact on children and teens. We develop, implement and refine our best practices and procedures through our direct afterschool programs at 11 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. By providing our leading edge training and disseminating our success strategies, WFIT is creating a sustainable, accessible way for youth-serving individuals and organizations to achieve the same evidence-based results. The MiM Program allows WFIT to make real progress in reducing childhood obesity by sharing our wealth of knowledge and encouraging the overall physical, mental and emotional well-being of young people.

The First Annual 'Have a Heart for Kids!' event hosted by our Celebrity Spokesperson Kevin Sorbo, was very successful and the proceeds will help benefit the thousands of disadvantaged kids and families that WFIT serves through our healthy behaviors programming and training. The event was held at the beautiful Los Angeles Athletic Club, and guests enjoyed wine, hors d’oeuvres, and great music throughout the evening. WFIT would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our wine sponsor, Regusci Winery, for their continued generosity.  

Thank you again for your support, and we hope to see you at our next special event this summer! Keep an eye out for more details to come shortly.

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