Schools get fitness equipment from UCLA group fighting childhood obesity

EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KABC) -- A UCLA-based organization is contributing to the fight against rising childhood obesity with donations of fitness equipment to Los Angeles schools.[br /][br /]UCLA's [url HREF="https://www.uclahealth.org/soundbodysoundmind/Pages/default.aspx[br /]" TARGET="" REL="nofollow"]Sound Body Sound Mind[/url] program opened a new fitness center at a middle school in East Los Angeles, one of seven in Los Angeles County to receive the donations this year.[br /][Ads /][br /]Students at Belvedere Middle School said the only gym they had before was a run-down weight room with broken equipment.[br /][br /]"I'm so excited because we don't really have one here at Belvedere middle school and I believe that this new fitness center will greatly improve our fitness and health," said 8th grader Maura Morales.[br /][br /]The UCLA program was founded by businessman and former California gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon and his wife Cindy.[br /][br /]"A school like this one with 1,400 children - about half of them are going to be overweight, so 700 kids. We have a chance to make an important and profound impact," Bill Simon said.[br /][br /]The $50,000 grant also goes toward teaching kids ways to make better food choices.