 What is Active Living?
Active Living refers to a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. In addition to recreational exercise, active living includes moderate forms of activity such as walking or bicycling for transportation, taking the stairs, or working in the yard.
We believe an increase in active living will improve the health and wellness of the people and communities of Spartanburg County. Physical inactivity is a primary risk factor for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, certain cancers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and osteoporosis. It also is associated with depression, isolation, and mental illness. Improving the health and wellness of Spartanburg County through increased physical activity will require efforts that address the underlying causes of inactivity, create more opportunities for activity, and encourage the use of opportunities for physical activity. For more information about the effects of active living on community health and the most effective ways to increase physical activity, click here to read a research paper written for the Mary Black Foundation by one of the nation’s leading experts in this area, Dr. James Sallis.
What are the Targeted Results?
The intended outcome of the Foundation’s investment in active living is that more people in Spartanburg County, SC will be more physically active. Therefore, the Foundation will invest in three types of efforts – Programs &, Services; Policies & Places; and Planning & Capacity Building – that will lead to an increase in physical activity.
Programs & Services for the purpose of helping people become more physically active – either for recreation or for transportation - may include the provision of resources, information, direct assistance, social support, or skills to others.
The result we seek is an increase in the actual number of people who move from sedentary to active lifestyles. We will give priority to projects that:
• Use proven-effective or innovative approaches that are grounded in active living research.
• Target people at high risk of poor health outcomes due to sedentary living.
• Are of sufficient duration and intensity to make a difference in the health of its participants.
• Clearly demonstrate how they will sustain the increase in people who are more physically active.
Policies & Places have a direct impact on whether people have the opportunity to be active. For example, a change in policies can lead to improved infrastructure, new funding mechanisms, or a shift in norms that increases the number of people walking or biking for transportation. Likewise, having new or enhanced places to be physically active, like trails, bike lanes, recreation facilities, and parks, will increase the number of people who get active.
The results we seek are (1) the presence of more specific policies that provide resources (land, money, political will, media coverage, etc.) for active living and (2) more places created or improved that are used by people to increase their activity. We give priority to projects that:
• Clearly demonstrate sufficient community support to achieve the change in policy or place.
• Increase the connectivity among existing opportunities for physical activity.
• Connect opportunities for physical activity with other destinations (places to shop, eat, work, etc.).
• Encourage physical activity for transportation and recreation.
• Clearly demonstrate the impact the change in policy or place will have on the number of people who are physically active.
Planning & Capacity Building for organizations that have as part of their core mission an increase in active living. Investments in this area strengthen the organizations we fund so that they can achieve and sustain stronger results.
We give priority to projects that:
• Clearly demonstrate how an investment in planning or capacity building will strengthen the ability of the organization to increase active living.
How to Apply for Funding?
The Mary Black Foundation generally accepts applications for funding four times a year. Click here to learn more about the Foundation’s grantmaking procedures.
What do we Fund?
For a listing of past Active Living Foundation grants, click here.
Active Living Resources
Apply For a Grant
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