Hershey's track & field youth program: holds successful 24th North American final meet

On Saturday, August 11, 480 boys and girls, ages nine to fourteen, from across the United States and Canada, gathered in Chocolate Town, U.S.A. for an exciting and memorable experience -- the 24th North American Final Meet of Hershey's Track & Field Youth Program.

"More Than A Track Meet," the four-day, all-expenses-paid experience began on Thursday, August 9 and concluded on Sunday, August 12. The North American Final Meet was on Saturday. The Meet was not the only activity for the athletes and more than 130 chaperones were housed at Elizabethtown College. They toured the World's Largest Chocolate Plant in Hershey, Pa., spent a day at Hershey-park amusement complex, visited Hershey's Chocolate World visitors center, and met Rafer Johnson, 1960 Olympic Decathlon Champion and Hershey Youth Program spokesperson.

Results and photos from this year's North American Final Meet are available at www.hersheystrackandfield.com.

Everyone knows that one person can make a difference. Imagine what more than 100,000 volunteers in more than 3,000 communities in small towns and large cities across the United States and Canada can achieve. The Hershey's National Track and Field Youth Program North American Final Meet is the culmination of a year's effort by individuals all focused on providing a quality fitness program for children ages nine to 14 in their communities.

Next year will mark the 25th year that the National Recreation and Park Association and Hershey Foods Corporation have worked with communities all across North America to provide youngsters the opportunity to learn the basic skills of running, jumping and throwing. When you think that approximately 400,000 children and more than 100,000 volunteers are involved in the program each year and you multiply that by 25 years ... a lot of people have been a part of the history of the Hershey Youth Program.

"I encourage every community to conduct a Hershey's Track and Field Youth Program local meet," said Kathy Spangler, Director of National Programs, NRPA. "This is one of the finest youth programs supported by the NRPA and if you or your community have not been involved, you are missing an opportunity to provide a quality program to the youth in your community." Additional information on Hershey's Track and Field Youth Program is available at active parks.org.