North Oakland YMCA Encourages Kids to Play and Learn at Healthy Kids Day®

April 26, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -  YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and the Dodge brand are celebrating Healthy Kids Day®, a community event designed to encourage kids and families to stay physically and intellectually fit throughout the summer. The entire community is invited to enjoy family fun activities on Saturday, April 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Oakland Family YMCA (3378 E. Walton Blvd., Auburn Hills, Mich.).

During Healthy Kids Day, the Dodge brand, national supporter of Healthy Kids Day, in conjunction with Milosch’s Palace Chrysler Jeep® Dodge of Lake Orion, will host the Dodge Ride and Drive at the North Oakland Family YMCA. The full-line of 2012 Dodge vehicles will be on site and available for test drives. For each test drive, Dodge will donate $20.00 to the North Oakland Family YMCA Strong Kids Campaign to help support local kids and families in need.

Other events will include a scavenger hunt, bounce house, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, face painting, healthy cooking demonstration with Chef Tony Merritt, and various games for a fun-filled day for kids and their families. Kids will be able to do their own test drives in miniature Dodge Charger police cars.

In addition, the North Oakland Family YMCA is proud to host representatives from Crittenton Hospital, Buffalo Wild Wings, ROXO, Kidz1st, Michigan Scholastic Cycling Club, Onyx, Carousel Acres Petting Zoo, Auburn Hills Police and Waterhouse Photography. Vendors will provide a variety of activities including kids portraits, health and safety tips and much more.

“At the North Oakland Family YMCA, we know that when the school year ends, many kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning. Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer,” said Chris King, North Oakland Family YMCA Executive Director. “Summer is just around the corner and is an ideal time for kids to get out and grow so they are healthier and sharper when the next school year begins.”

A leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity through active play. As part of this initiative, the Y – along with hundreds of thousands of parents and kids nationwide – is taking on summer by addressing critical gaps in health and education that cause kids to be at risk for childhood obesity and suffer summer learning loss.

Research shows that without access to activities that stimulate the mind and body, kids are more prone to gain weight and fall behind academically over the summer months. More than 1,900 Ys across the country are taking part in the celebration, meant to kick start physical activity and learning throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids.

The North Oakland Family YMCA Healthy Kids Day is supported by the Dodge brand, headquartered in Auburn Hills, and Milosch’s Palace Chrysler Jeep Dodge located at 3800 South Lapeer Road in Lake Orion.

For more information, contact North Oakland Family YMCA at 248-370-9622 or visit http://ymcadetroit.org/north-oakland.

About the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Throughout Metro Detroit, Y's engage more than 300,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the region’s health and well-being and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in communities throughout Metro Detroit, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. For more information go to www.ymcadetroit.org or contact Chad Creekmore at (313) 223-2487.

About Dodge
For nearly 100 years, Dodge has defined passionate and innovative vehicles that stand apart in performance and in style. Building upon its rich heritage of muscle cars, racing technology and ingenious engineering, Dodge offers a full-line of cars, crossovers, minivans and SUVs built for top performance – from power off the line and handling in the corners, to high quality vehicles that deliver unmatched versatility and excellent fuel efficiency. Only Dodge offers such innovative functionality combined with class-leading performance, exceptional value and distinctive design. With the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart, the all-new Dodge Charger paired with the ZF eight-speed transmission that achieves a class-leading 31 miles per gallon on the highway, the new Durango and the significantly revamped Grand Caravan – inventor of the minivan – Journey, Avenger and iconic Challenger, Dodge now has one of the youngest dealer showrooms in the United States.