Henkel Helps Get kids Fit

2007: Henkel Helps Cleaned Up a Community Zoo

To clean and beautify a community in need was our goal in 2007. So, we called upon consumers to nominate locations or landmarks in their neighborhoods that needed our help. A panel of judges selected three finalists from over 900 submissions, and posted those finalists on the henkelhelps.com website. A nationwide consumer vote declared the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, TX the winner.

A devastating flood had all but destroyed the Zoo’s children’s educational center. Now, thanks to consumer votes and the help of several Henkel volunteers, the families of Gainesville can once again enjoy a clean and beautiful educational experience at their beloved Zoo!

2008: Henkel Helps Rebuilds a High School

In 2008, we helped to lay a solid foundation for education. Literally. It all began when we reached out to school community members, including parents, students and staff, asking them to submit essays about why their school could use Henkel’s help. Basing our choices on originality, creativity, enthusiasm and good grammar, we narrowed a field of over 1,500 entries down to our Top 10. After more than 350,000 votes were cast in an online, public vote, it was Lynne Mulder’s gripping story that secured Aplington-Parkersburg High School's place as the winner.

Lynne wrote; “On May 25, 2008, an F-5 tornado destroyed a third of the community of Parkersburg, Iowa including the high school.” Lynne, her two sons, who attend both the Aplington-Parkersburg middle and high school's, and the rest of her town were thrilled to learn that their community would receive $25,000 toward the rebuilding of their high school!

2009: Henkel Helps Celebrated Creative Kids

When you ask a child their opinion, the most amazing ideas spill forth. That’s why in 2009 we asked children ages 2-17 to share their artistic visions for how they would make the world an easier, better and more beautiful place to live. The winners were determined by online consumer votes and by celebrity judges artist Romero Britto and Fancy Nancy author Jane O’Connor.

We awarded four deserving (and very, very excited) Grand Prize winners a trip to New York City to see their creations showcased in a two-hour gallery event at the renowned Society of Illustrators.

2010: Henkel Helps Inspired Kids to Get Fit

There was, and continues to be, an urgent health and fitness crisis among our nation’s youth. But with the majority of schools across the nation continuing to face budget crises, there’s not often much that can be done about it. In 2010, we geared our efforts towards helping kids get fit and active.

With the help of the American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s leading authority on fitness and one of the largest fitness certification, education and training organizations in the world, the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit campaign inspired kids, parents and teachers to reach for the goal of $25,000 to be used towards providing enhanced health and fitness education, equipment, technology, resources and services for their school.

Participants submitted online essays, from which we chose 10 finalists, who were asked to create videos showing why they needed our help to improve fitness in their schools. An additional online sweepstakes offered an opportunity to bring healthy, active living home with a chance for a family to win $5,000 in fitness cash.

Orchard Grove Elementary School in Frederick, MD was the winner of the $25,000! Orchard Grove used the fitness cash to build a running track to support their school’s running program.

2011: Henkel Helps Challenged Communities to Help Get Kids Fit

We continue to address the urgent health and fitness crisis among our nation’s youth by helping kids get fit and active. Working with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program asked communities across America to nominate their school for a chance to win $10,000.

Teachers, parents and community members submitted their nominations letting us know what their chosen school does to get kids fit, why they need help to do more, and how they would use the winning $10,000 to improve youth fitness.

A total of 15 finalists were selected to submit videos explaining how they would use the prize money. The public voted on their favorites, selecting three winners – one elementary, middle and high school. Calcedeaver Elementary, Middletown Middle School and Henry Clay High each received $10,000 to further fitness education programs.

In addition to the $30,000 prize, a sweepstakes awarded $5,000 to help one lucky winner get fit and active.