For our first course of action, we sought out one school where we could coordinate the brightest minds in exercise science with some public-minded equipment suppliers and make a difference that would shake the playground.

We asked teachers, parents, and students to write in and tell us about their schools and why they needed our help. And though we received hundreds of entries, there was something exceptional about a junior-high principal named Michael Cory, who, at 36, has dedicated himself to getting back in shape—and helping the 1,300 children under his charge to do the same.

Like many schools in the country, Cory's school—Richard H. Gettys Middle School, in Easley, South Carolina—is facing a crisis. Its facilities are rotting (there could be more flying bats than baseball bats in the school gym), its funding is limited, and its student body is getting larger — in every way. Last year, one overweight kid literally fell through the floor of a classroom.

So Men's Health and the staff and students of Gettys are accepting the challenge to fight back. Read more about Cory's quest and what MH is doing to help jumpstart the physical-education program at Gettys. And you'll discover something more: that you, too, have the power to make a major difference in your community. There may not be any kids dropping through the floors of your local school, but there are a lot of children at risk. And taking the knowledge that Men's Health brings you—about fitness, nutrition, and health—and sharing it with kids may be the healthiest thing you do this year, not just for them, but also for yourself.

FITSCHOOLS FACULTY

Jackie Lund, Ph.D.
Dr. Lund is a professor, nationally recognized presenter and author of numerous books and book chapters including “Standards Based Physical Education Curriculum Development,” Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2005, and “Performance Based Assessment for Middle and High School Physical Education,” Human Kinetics Publishing Company, 2002.  She is currently delivering a series of workshops across the United States entitled “Instructional Models in Standards-Based Physical Education” and “Assessment Strategies: K-12 Physical Education.”  Dr. Lund has also served as the president of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) from 2006-2007.

Jim Liston, M.Ed.
Jim is a recognized leader in youth fitness and professional athletics.  Mr. Liston is the Founder and President of CATZ Physical Therapy Institute and Sports Performance Center, and nationally recognized as a leader in developing performance training programs for athletes of all ages, including some of the world’s most recognizable sports figures. For six years, Mr. Liston served as the strength and conditioning coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy Soccer Club where he developed a comprehensive performance training, injury prevention and nutrition program for the team.   Mr. Liston currently serves as the chairman of the Sierra Madre (CA) Community Services Commission and recently presented (June 14, 2008) “Fitness Guidelines for Children and Youth” at the American Physical Therapy Association’s National Convention. 

David Jack
David is the general manager and performance specialist for CATZ Sports in Massachusetts. Jack works closely with the physical education staff in FitSchools as well as adults in the local communities to help them become health and fitness role models for children. By motivating kids to take pride in their own health and their schools' physical education program, he fosters leadership skills among children both inside and outside of the classroom. Jack has worked with numerous professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, UFC, MLS, and with sports teams such as the Boston Red Sox.

Brian Grasso
Brian currently serves as Executive Director for the International Youth Conditioning Association and is a sought-after expert in the realm of young athlete development and youth fitness worldwide. An accomplished presenter, Brian provides educational seminars covering youth athletic development and training topics to sporting organizations throughout the world. The list of governing bodies Brian has presented to includes, the National Coaching Education Program and the National Alliance for Youth Sports. He has worked with several professional and Olympic athletes from a variety of sports, and has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe as a Conditioning Consultant for both the Canadian and United States National Team athletes.

FITSCHOOLS Executive Staff

David Zinczenko
David is editor-in-chief of Men’s Health and President of FitSchools. Zinczenko oversees the editorial content of the largest men’s lifestyle magazine brand in the world. (Men’s Health boasts a readership of more than 10 million men, with editions in 40 countries and a worldwide team of doctors, researchers and experts contributing every month to the magazine and website.) In addition, he is the editorial director of Women’s Health. His also the co-author of the best selling books Eat This, Not That, Eat This, Not That for Kids, and Eat This, Not That Supermarket edition.

Adam Campbell
Adam is Men's Health's features editor, deputy editor of Men’s Health online, and the Vice President of FitSchools. He's a National Magazine Award-winning journalist, author of the Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises, and co-author of the TNT Diet. Adam holds a master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Kansas, and is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Adam Bornstein
Adam is Men’s Health fitness editor, and the Director of FitSchools. Bornstein collaborates with the brightest minds in fitness and diet to help offer ways for men to improve their overall health. Bornstein earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado, and his Master’s from the University of Florida. In addition to his experience as an editor, Bornstein has taught college courses in journalism and psychology, and worked as a reporter covering sports, health, and fitness.