Call for Applications

About The Program

With the goal of empowering school age children nationwide with the means to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, ING Run For Something Better (ING RFSB), in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), has developed a school-based running program. In addition to fighting childhood obesity, research shows that physical activity improves self esteem, school performance and overall well being.

The awards program will provide a minimum of fifty (50) grants up to $2,500 for each school that desires to establish a school based running program or expand an existing one. Through activity plans created by NASPE and based on the National Standards for Physical Education (NASPE, 2004), the awards program will offer children a healthy start to life and foster their desire to exercise before obesity ever begins. To ensure impartiality, NASPE will manage the 2013 School Awards Program for ING U.S.

If you are ready to make an impact on the lives of your students through healthy lifestyle changes, improving self esteem and reducing the rate of childhood obesity, then step up to the starting line!

Steps and Instructions:

1. Eligibility

   1. Awards are available to programs that target grades Kindergarten through 8th grade in elementary or middle schools.

   2. Schools must design a before, during and/or after school program which will be offered to the best of the school�s ability to all students in eligible grades. The program must not be exclusive to participants of one gender. The program must be offered a minimum of 2 days per week.

   3. The program must have a commitment of at least 25 students in grades 4th-8th in order to be eligible to apply and supply the PACER data results.

   4. Awards are available to schools in all fifty (50) states, D.C. and U.S. territories, but will be limited to no more than seven (7) recipients per state.

   5. Schools with existing school-based running programs are eligible for an award, but the school must meet the outlined award criteria. Schools also have the opportunity to use the ING RFSB program materials to enhance their current running program.

   6. Any school districts that are currently involved with ING RFSB and/or already participate in an ING U.S. sponsored culminating event are not eligible to apply. Past recipients of the ING RFSB School Awards Program managed through NASPE are eligible and will be reviewed equally with all other applicants.

   7. Person conducting the program must be currently employed by the school or school district in which the program will be held.

   8. Schools must implement a minimum of an eight (8) week running program with a culminating event by December 31, 2013.*If your school is unable to complete a running program and culminating event by December 31, 2013 due to geographical restrictions, inclement weather or other reason, please explain in writing when applying.

   The purpose of the school awards for running programs is to engage all students in the sport of running, not to fund existing athletic programs and/or teams (i.e. track, cross country).

2. Requirements and Explanation of Award

   1. Cover letter from applicant communicating commitment to at least an eight week program. A cover letter must accompany any application for it to be reviewed.

   2. Each recipient will receive up to a $2,500 school award. The first $1,000 will be awarded upon notification to the school. The second installment will be distributed upon conclusion and evidence of your school's running culminating event, receipt of PACER data and other required post evaluation materials.

      There are three levels of the second installment

      1. In order to receive a second installment of $500; you must have a minimum of 25 kids in grades 4th-8th that complete the PACER and submit the pre and post test PACER results, complete one culminating event, show evidence of culminating event (i.e. picture of group at event, news or press clippings, etc.), complete your survey at the end of the program and submit your student quotes/essays.

      2. In order to receive a second installment of $1,000; your program must have 50-99 eligible students in grades 4th-8th and fulfill all other requirements as stated above.

      3. In order to receive a second installment of $1,500; your program must have 100 or more eligible students in grades 4th-8th and fulfill all other requirements as stated above.

   3. The Cardiovascular FITNESSGRAM PACER test manual and testing materials will be provided to all grant recipients at no cost to your school. Pre and post tests using the PACER must be administered to all eligible students in grades 4th-8th participating in the ING RFSB program and submitted to NASPE before the second installment of the award is given.

   4. Responsibility of each school/applicant: When utilizing the PACER test, student identity must be kept completely anonymous as the data for each student will be submitted to NASPE as Student 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. The school will be provided with a school code to go along with the student number, for example, Jones Middle School would be school #01, so the data would come in as 01-1 (for student 1), 01-2 (for student 2), etc.

   5. In order for the school�s application to be eligible for review and possible funding, the application must include a letter signed (electronic signature is allowable by a school official who monitors/approves student involvement in research studies. The letter must state that the school district is fully aware of and in agreement with the data collection requirements and grants permission for NASPE and ING U.S. to use the data anonymously. A signed letter of acknowledgement must accompany any application for it to be reviewed.

   6. Post-evaluation materials must be received with PACER data by December 31, 2013 . Post-evaluation materials must include the following:

      Required

      1. Complete brief online survey about program participation and success

      2. Provide NASPE with short essays or quotes from students participating in the school-based ING RFSB program

      3. Provide NASPE with culminating event evidence (photo release forms must be on file with the school)

      Optional

      4. Send home student/parent survey for program feedback

      5. Copies of running logs completed by students

      6. Unique activity plan(s) created by school

   7. In the application, the school will be required to explain how it plans to use the grant money. All of the grant money must be used to support and/or sustain the school-based running program. Up to 100 pairs of orange laces will be provided to each awarded school. Any additional orange laces needed beyond that can be included in the budget for $2/pair. A pair of orange shoelaces symbolizes your support for youth running and fitness. *You will be asked to itemize approximately how the funds will be used (e.g. staffing, t-shirts, transportation, participation awards, collateral materials, etc.) using either percentages or dollar amounts.

   8. Programs can be longer than eight (8) weeks. Program materials created by NASPE can be modified, can be repeated to extend a program, and/or can be mixed and matched in order to fit school needs. Additionally, other running program materials can be used.

   9. Award checks will be made payable to the school.

   10. Applicants will be notified during September 2013. Applicants can view the list of award winners by October 2013

   www.naspeinfo.org/run

3. Obligations and Revisions

   Recipients have no obligations to ING U.S. They are required to notify NASPE of any changes of address or relevant information. ING U.S. reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this program and make changes at any time, including termination of the program.

4. Application Deadline

   NASPE/ING Run For Something Better School Award Program Application

   Application Deadline: May 15, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST

   The applicant is responsible for completing all sections of application and obtaining the required verification signature(s). Electronic signatures are acceptable. The applicant is also responsible for submitting all application materials, including responses to statements. If you represent a team effort, list only one name as 'Applicant'; list other names on separate sheet.

   
   

   All applications will be reviewed and given a score out of 100 total points broken down by section. NASPE�s review board, consisting of teachers and education administration, will select recipients for school awards.

5. Technical Support

   For help in submitting an application online, email Tech Support.