Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) and local business Bally Total Fitness Baton Rouge have teamed up to help keep East Baton Rouge Parish School System students healthy.  The gym is now a partner with Wildwood Elementary School. The agreement includes a field trip for students to Bally Total Fitness at Perkin’s Rowe and providing motivational speakers during physical education classes, to encourage students to eat healthy and exercise.

On Friday, December 14, 2007, representatives from Bally’s took part in a low-impact aerobics activity with students.  The activity included exercise through dance, jumping jacks and stretching. 

After attending VIPS’ Partners In Education Expo in October, Ched Lambert, manager of Bally Total Fitness Baton Rouge, learned how local businesses can support the public school system.  "Bally Total Fitness Baton Rouge is constantly striving through activities to develop responsibilities and success. It is our intent and one of our main goals to raise awareness of kids’ fitness in the Baton Rouge metropolitan area,” Lambert said. 

VIPS’ Partners In Education (PIE) program works to connect local organizations to East Baton Rouge Parish public schools to help improve student achievement.  “VIPS is delighted for each opportunity to connect a business with a school to address important issues that affect students, and childhood obesity is one of those issues.  Through the work of the partnership between Wildwood Elementary and Bally Total Fitness we hope to see students become motivated, healthy, and gain higher self-esteem,” said Shannon Cain, VIPS PIE Coordinator.

Businesses and organizations interested in becoming a school partner can contact VIPS at 226-4702.