Kids Work It Out has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on Dec. 3, #GivingTuesday is held annually in the United States on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — following the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday — to kick off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

Kids Work It Out at Wayne State University currently operates a school-based, nationally unique program that fuses yoga practice, mindfulness, social and emotional learning, trauma coping and nutrition education. Since 2005, the program has reached 16,000 children and facilitated important life impact:

• 85% increased health through yoga
• 72% use breathing techniques to reduce stress
• 73% concentrate better in the classroom
• 93% feel better about life because of yoga
• 88% eat healthier

This #GivingTuesday, Kids Work It Out’s goal is to raise $18,000 to provide this life-changing program to an additional 300 elementary school children in Detroit schools. Kids Work It Out has teamed up with Citizen Yoga Detroit to host a special donations-based class at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, to help support the cause. To sign up, click here.

Being part of the #GivingTuesday community also provides the opportunity to share the Kids Work It Out story with a wider audience to gain followers and generate support for its continuous initiative to combat childhood obesity and improve the quality of life for children in Detroit.

Nate McCaughtry, director of the Center for Health and Community Impact, said, “Giving Tuesday is an essential part of our effort to enhance the health, education and lives of children in Detroit. Over nearly 15 years, we’ve had the privilege of offering this life-changing program to thousands of children, and now we are poised to expand our efforts, bringing the program to city-wide scale.”

To donate, visit go.wayne.edu/give-Kids-Work-It-Out.

About Kids Work It Out

Kids Work It Out was founded by Danialle Karmanos in 2005, to combat childhood obesity and improve the quality of life for children in Detroit through a nationally acclaimed formula of yoga practice, mindfulness, social and emotional learning, trauma coping and nutrition education delivered throughout Detroit schools and community centers. Since 2005, the program has changed the lives of over 16,000 children. In 2017, the program was acquired by the Wayne State University Center for Health and Community Impact, located in the College of Education, to effectively reach more children, elementary schools and community centers throughout the city. To learn more about Kids Work It Out, visit kidsworkitout.org or search for @kidsworkitout on Facebook or Instagram.

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University, located in the heart of Detroit’s Midtown Cultural Center, is a premier urban research institution offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 27,000 students. For more information, visit wayne.edu. 

About the Center for Health and Community Impact

The mission of the Center for Health and Community Impact is to improve community health and vitality through leadership and advancement of research, programs and policies for healthy living. Educators, clinicians, practitioners, evaluators, researchers, and community leaders at Wayne State University collaborate to advance health and social equity at local, regional, and national levels. Since 2010, center programs have directly impacted more than 150,000 youth and families and 500 educators and health practitioners across 350 community organizations. To learn more, visit coe.wayne.edu/centerforhealthandcommunityimpact/index.php.  

About #GivingTuesday

Founded by the team in the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92nd Street Y www.92Y.org, #GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. This year, #GivingTuesday falls on Dec. 3. #GivingTuesday harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners
to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season. It inspires people to take collective action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they believe in, and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday demonstrates how every act of generosity counts, and that they mean even more when we give together. For more information about #GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, visit givingtuesday.org or search for @GivingTuesday on Facebook or @GivingTues on Twitter.