MUSC receives $1 million grant from Boeing for children's center

MUSC Children's Hospital has received a $1 million investment from Boeing to establish a community-based center that will work focus on healthy diets, physical activity and good health for children.

The Boeing Center for Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Children and Families will be housed and managed from the hospital, but its activities will take place in local schools and other sites throughout the community.

"Children are our future and by making this investment, Boeing is helping to shape a healthier South Carolina," said MUSC President Ray Greenberg in a statement. "We need to instill healthy lifestyle practices at the youngest possible ages in order to prevent the development of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other illnesses down the road."

The center eventually will serve more than 8,000 children and their family members directly, but an additional estimated 47,000 children and 8,000 adults will benefit from changes that will be made in Charleston schools.

The center's programs will be based on two of MUSC's obesity prevention and treatment programs, the Lean Team and Heart Health. Boeing's investment will enable the hospital to expand both under the center's umbrella and reach more students and families.

It will provide nutrition counseling, fitness training, exercise classes, medical assessments, individualized treatments and group programs.

Read more in Friday's editions of The Post and Courier.