Two Proven Programs

The goal of our programs is to combat the alarming rise in childhood obesity.  We do this through innovative programs that focus on developing healthy habits and helping kids take personal responsibility for changing their habits, no matter their circumstances.  
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Our programs are evidence-based and proven to help kids and families build healthy habits for life. Both of our programs are founded on our core Healthy Life Habits.‍

The Lifestar ChallengeTM Program

The LifeStar Challenge program is available to schools and youth-serving organizations everywhere.  It’s lessons can easily be integrated into the schools curriculums for Physical Education, Health, STEM and Science or in Before and After-school programs.  
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Additionally its lessons can fit in nicely as the healthy living component of any other youth serving program, faith based organization or camp.

The goal tracking stars help kids stay motivated and keep them on track to
complete the program

Program Profiles

Arizona Program

In 2003 Healthy LifeStars began its fight against childhood obesity in Arizona by developing the Greater Phoenix area as its first LifeStar Community.

Arizona Program Partners Include:

• Bernard Black Elementary
• Borman Elementary
• Boys and Girls Club – Barker Branch
• Boys and Girls Club – McKee Branch
• Cerbat Elementary School
• Cesar Chavez Foundation

• Elevate Phoenix
• Hacienda Manuel Chavez
• Hirsch Academy
• Plaza Manuel Ortega Community Center
• Saddleback Elementary School

Healthy LifeStars National Board of Directors
Currently the national board serves as the Arizona Advisory Board

• Ruann Ernst, Chair
• Jeff Sisson, Co-Chair
• O. Kim Goheen, Treasurer
• Cindi Englefield, Business Woman & Community Leader

• Deb Kelly, Managing Partner- Genesis
• Kurt Miller, Independent Consultant
• Jerre Stead, Business & Community Leader
• Mary Joy Stead, Business & Community Leader

Colorado Program

In 2010 Healthy LifeStars launched our programs in Colorado with several community partners such as Scholars Unlimited (formerly SummerScholars) and Denver Parks and Recreation. Our goal is to offer our free program to as many kids and families as possible while encouraging educators and assisting youth-serving organizations in our state.

Colorado Program Partners include:

• Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver
• Briargate YMCA
• Denver Public Schools |Extended Learning and Community Schools
• Denver Parks and Recreation
• Downtown YMCA
• Foothills Parks and Recreation

• Fountain Valley YMCA
• Garden Ranch YMCA
• Jefferson Center for Mental Health
• Southeast YMCA
• Tri Lakes YMCA
• YMCA of Metropolitan Denver

Colorado Advisory Board

• Deb Kelly, Chair; Partner, Genesis Inc.
• Julie Tschida Brown, Chief People and Culture Officer, Zayo
• Rachael George, Communications Consultant, RBG Communications
• Guy Gunther, Senior Director, Consumer Fiber, Lumen
• Janet Johnson, Executive Creative Director, Partner, Genesis Inc

• Jeff Sisson, Board Director, ASM Global
• Bri Bloss, Associate, Advisory, Digital Lighthouse, KPMG LLP

Iowa Program

In July 2018 Healthy LifeStars and the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy at theUniversity of Iowa College of Public Health partnered to implement the Healthy LifeStars program in Iowa. The program operates in before, during or after school settings programs throughout Iowa. For sites in the Iowa City area, the program utilizes University of Iowa student coaches.

Iowa Program Partners Include:

• Alexander Elementary
• Capitol View Elementary
• Central Cares After School
• Grant Wood Elementary
• Helping Services of NE Iowa
• Hills Elementary
• Horace-Mann Elementary
• Iowa City Compassion
• Irving Elementary
• Kaleidoscope Kids, West Union
• Lucas Elementary Off Campus

• Mann-Bedell Family YMCA Spirit Lake and Okoboji
• Mason City Parks and Recreation
• Monroe County Public Health
• Mark Twain Elementary
• Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County
• No Boundaries
• Oak Park Elementary
• Orange Elementary
• Pleasant Ridge
• Shimek Elementary
• Strawberry Hill Elementary
• Waukee YMCA

Iowa Advisory Board

• Mary Joy Stead, Founder and Generous Donor
• Jerre Stead, Founder and Generous Donor
• Edith Parker, Dean College of Public Health, University of Iowa
• Sue Curry, Special Assistant to the President and Dean Emeritus, College of PublicHealth, University of Iowa
• Vickie Miene, Iowa Chapter Director

Student Advisory Council

The Student Advisory Council is comprised of University of Iowa students that are passionate about inspiring kids to live active and healthy lives. All students are welcome to participate if available on a regular basis, but generally students enrolled in public health, medicine, or wellness majors are most interested in this council.

The Student Advisory Council supports Healthy LifeStars by:

• Being ambassadors of the Healthy LifeStars program
• Though not required, many council members are also HLS coaches to several elementary schools in the area, teaching the program concepts of I Eat Right! I am Active! and I Can Do It!
• Offering innovative ideas for outreach, engagement and celebration milestones
• Provides input into the development of various student learning experiences Links the HLS program to various student groups to create awareness about the program and encourage participation.
• Participate in the HLS StepAThon event; a multi-state fundraiser that encourages healthy activity while raising awareness and funds, which provides the Healthy LifeStars program to even more kids!

Ohio Program

In February 2017 Healthy LifeStars and The Office of the Chief Wellness Officer partnered to launch the Healthy LifeStars program in Ohio. Faculty, staff and students from The College of Nursing and other Colleges help implement programs in the Central Ohio area with the goal of growing throughout the state of Ohio.

Ohio Program Partners Include:

• All Saints Academy
• Ansonia Elementary School
• Beatty Community Center
• Blessed Sacrament Netwrok
• Bridgeway Academy
• Bishop Fenwick
• Bishop Flaget
• Columbus Catholic Diocese
• Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
• Dayton Early College Academy
• DNA Community Center
• Emmanuel Christian Academy
• Fairborn Elementary
• Fairfield Elementary School
• Gables Elementary School
• Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland
• Golden Key School for Exceptional Children
• Keyser Elementary School
• Highland Park Elementary
• Ohio Hispanic Coalition - East Site
• Ohio Hispanic Coalition - North Site
• Ohio Hispanic Coalition - West Site
• Ohio State University College of Nursing

• Our Lady of Peace Elementary
• Springfield Virtual Group
• Springboro Elementary
• St. Agatha Elementary
• St. Andrew Elementary
• St. Anthony Elementary
• St. Brendan Elementary
• St. Brigid of Kildare Elementary
• St. Catherine Elementary
• St. Francis de Sales Newark Elementary
• St. Joseph Montessori School
• St. Mary Elementary
• St. Mary of Delaware Elementary
• St. Peter and Paul School
• St. Pius X Elementary
• Stingley Elementary
• Trinity Catholic School
• UMC Freedom School
• Union County Family YMCA
• Youngstown YMCA
• YWCA Gahana
• YWCA Worthington

Ohio Advisory Board

• Ruann Ernst, Founder of Healthy LifeStars
• Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Dean and Chief Wellness Officer, OSU
• Cindi Englefield, Chair
• Jeanie Bochenek, Co-Chair and Chapter Director
•  Lorelee Syal, Retired RN, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

• Eileen Bertolini, Retired CFO, Advancement OSU
• Sherri Watts, DNP, RN, NDNQI Site Coordinator, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Kelly King, Program Manager
• Allison Huffman, Student Advisor
• Coreena Chan, Student Advisor

National Programs

California Program Partners Include:

• Casa Amelia Cadena Community Center
• Casa Velasco Community Center
• Govea Gardens Community Center
• Las Palmas de Sal Gonzales Community Center
• Plaza Mendoza Community Center
• Plaza Ortiz

• Plaza Vasquez Community Center
• Salandini Villa Community Center
• Villa Luna Community Center
• Villa Martinez Community Center
• Villa Robles Community Center

Connecticut Program Partners Include:

• Hartford's Camp Courant

New Jersey Program Partners Include:

• Boys & Girls Club of Newark
• Michelle Obama Elementary

New Mexico Program Partners Include:

• La Vida Nueva
• Plaza David Chavez
• Sandia Vista

Texas Program Partners Include:

• Booker T. Washington - East Austin
• Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area
• Casa Messina Community Center
• Casa Saldana Community Center
• Chalmers Court Community Center
• Cook Elementary
• Jardines de la Fuente Community Center
• Home Club on the Sheth Family Campus
• IDEA Rundberg
• Los Portales de Lena Guerrero
• McBee Elementary School

• Meadowbrook Community Center
• NYOS Kramer Elementary School
• Overton Elementary School
• Park at Cliff Creek Community Center
• The Timber Community Center
• Walnut Creek Elementary
• Woolridge Elementary
• Villa Rodriquez Community Center
• Village of Meadow Bend Community Center

Utah Program Partners Include:

• Adams Elementary Davis School District

StepAThon™

The StepAThon is a fun way to get kids, college students, and adults moving while at the same helping combat the major health issue for kids today.

Obesity is directly related to heart disease, cancer and dementia and causes reduced self-esteem, and lower academics for kids. Obesity related health care costs are greater than those for all cancers combined! The number of overweight kids has grown 70% over the years with 1 in 4 kids obese or overweight today.
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The week-long virtual StepAThonTM is a friendly virtual competition that challenges individuals, families, and teams to see who can take the most steps and raise the most money.

With each step, together we can make a difference! Our national goals for this year are for 25 million steps – enough steps to walk around the world and raising enough money to help 1000 kids improve their healthy habits.

StepUp4Kids™ Celebration

Healthy LifeStars® Step Up 4 Kids Celebration and Fundraiser celebrates the StepAThon winners and raise funds for The LifeStar ChallengeTM and Together Counts programs.
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At the celebration you will learn more about our growth nationally and how we fight childhood obesity locally. Meet our kids and winners of the 2020 StepAThon and help us recognize our 2020 LifeStar Coach of the Year while enjoying food and drinks.

A central online auction platform connects to live events in multiple geographies on the day of the celebration. Both live and silent auctions are held on the day of the Celebration. Each geography drives and supports its own celebration with links to the silent auction and the ability to donate before and during the Celebration.

Together Counts

Together Counts is a nationwide program inspiring active and healthy living by providing FREE RESOURCES for parents, schools, and the entire community.
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Together Counts, originally started by The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, is now a program offered by Healthy LifeStars®.
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All the Together Counts materials promote ways to help people achieve a healthy weight through resources developed for families, schools and communities.