CHARLESTON, S.C.--The 98th Annual Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) began today in Charleston, with an opening plenary focusing on health and wellness. The session is part of NGA Chairman Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's yearlong initiative Healthy America: Wellness Where We Live, Work and Learn.

The plenary opened with remarks by Gov. Huckabee, who reflected on the many accomplishments and outcomes of his initiative, which has focused on creating a culture of wellness through healthy eating habits, increased physical activity and prevention of obesity-related diseases.

"Over the past year I've traveled the country and learned from my fellow governors the health and wellness strategies and programs they are implementing in their states," said Gov. Huckabee. "Together, we are reaching out to all populations through innovative strategies within and beyond the three pillars of the Healthy America initiative—communities, schools and worksites. But we still have much to do. The consequences of inaction—for individuals, states and the nation—are incalculable."

Following Gov. Huckabee's remarks, former governor and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson delivered a keynote address on "Transforming the U.S. Health Care System." Thompson, who is now chairman of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and president of Logistics Health Inc., discussed health care reform opportunities for states, with an emphasis on system reforms that better support wellness and consumer engagement.

The plenary continued with a discussion among food and beverage leaders about the marketing and selling of healthy food and beverages in the United States. The panel, "Food Companies and Health: Opportunities for Companies and Governors," included: Stephen Sanger, chairman of the board and CEO, General Mills, Inc.; Steven Reinemund, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Inc.; and Donald Knauss, president and COO of the North American Group, The Coca-Cola Co. Panelists also engaged in a discussion with governors, which provided the opportunity to explore productive interactions and partnerships between states and food and beverage companies. Charles Bierbauer, an Emmy winning former CNN correspondent and current dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies at the University of South Carolina, moderated the panel.

"Over the past year the Healthy America initiative has spurred policymakers, private industry, the medical community and governors across the country to enact real, tangible solutions to help our nation become healthier and more active," said NGA Vice Chair Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who also serves as co-chair of NGA's Healthy America Task Force. "The comments of Tommy Thompson and the panelists put into perspective the challenges we face in our battle against poor diet and lack of physical activity."

Gov. Huckabee also used the plenary session to unveil "Go! Healthy Living for Kids," a magazine which serves as a natural extension of NGA's Healthy America initiative. A partnership between NGA and Scholastic Inc., "Go!" is an innovative tool that helps raise national awareness of the urgent need for Americans of all ages to live healthier, more active lives.

NGA and Scholastic printed 300,000 copies of the 32-page publication, which is designed to provide a shared reading experience between parents and children with content targeted to children ages seven to nine. Through a variety of stories, games and activities, readers have the opportunity to learn about the simple, everyday practices that foster healthy lifestyles. The advertisement-free magazine employs fictional stories as well as basic facts to provide vital information and reinforce the initiative's core messages.

Every state will receive free copies of the magazine, which was designed and created by Scholastic and NGA. Scholastic will distribute 200,000 copies to major national nonprofit literacy and youth organizations and NGA will distribute another 100,000 to states and territories.

"Go! is a wonderful resource governors can use to share with young people and their caregivers the importance of starting a healthy, active lifestyle at an early age," said Gov. Huckabee. "This magazine is an excellent example of what states and private industry can do when they work together to make our nation a better place."

Gov. Huckabee also took the opportunity to talk about the NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Healthy States Grant Program and recognize the new program's funders. The Healthy States Grant Program builds on the momentum created during the Healthy America initiative. States receiving grants have developed realistic, achievable and sensible plans to encourage healthy, active lifestyles in their states. Through the generous support of Aetna, Anheuser-Busch, AstraZeneca, General Mills, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, PepsiCo, Pfizer and Wal-Mart; the NGA Center recently awarded grants of up to $100,000 for the development and implementation of state-based efforts and policy changes that encourage healthy behaviors. Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin will receive funding and assistance to support community- and worksite-based wellness efforts over the next 12 months.

To support continued state-based Healthy America efforts, Gov. Huckabee unveiled three tools governors can use to support wellness initiatives in their states:

• Creating Healthy States: Building Healthier Nutrition Programs, an issue brief offering perspectives on effective strategies to improve the health of certain high-risk populations;
• Creating Healthy States: Promoting Healthy Living in the Medicaid Program, an analysis of state efforts to strengthen prevention services within the Medicaid program; and
• Investing in America's Health, a national overview of the economic benefits of preventive care and individually tailored fact sheets for each state.

The plenary closed with the recognition of outgoing governors, presentation of the NGA Distinguished Service Awards and NGA Corporate Fellows 15-year awards.

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The National Governors Association (NGA), founded in 1908, is the instrument through which the nation's governors collectively influence the development and implementation of national policy and apply creative leadership to state issues. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. The NGA Center for Best Practices helps governors and their policy advisors develop and implement innovative solutions to governance and policy challenges facing them in their states. The Center provides tailored technical assistance, tracks and evaluates state innovations and best practices and helps governors and their staff develop cutting-edge solutions to stay ahead of problems. For more information, please visit www.nga.org.