The Coca-Cola Foundation announced Monday that it’s donated $5 million to put 100 fitness centers in schools across the United States over the next five years.
The group, the charitable arm of Atlanta-based beverage maker Coca-Cola, said the project is part of a partnership with the National Foundation for Governor’s Fitness Councils and the American College of Sports Medicine
The centers are expected to feature state-of-the-art fitness equipment and “provide more than 5 million workouts annually,” the foundation said. So far, targeted locations include three schools in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Boston. Fifteen Live Positively Fitness Centers are expected to be in elementary and middle schools across the country by the end of year.
Coca-Cola and the beverage industry has come under heavy criticism over the last decade for, according to detractors, contributing to obesity in America. While denying the accusations, the industry has reduced sugary drinks it puts in school vending machines and Coca-Cola has added smaller can sizes to its line up to allow consumers to still enjoy their products with fewer calories.
