There are two bikes that reside inside the offices of the Mary Black Foundation. One represents European style and charm, the other pop culture gone bad. One is a beautiful aqua with red wall tires, the other a chipped purple with a camouflage back tire. One is mine, and one is Cate’s. I will let you determine which is which.

Recently, I have committed to riding my bike to meetings that are within a reasonable and safe distance from the foundation. I can’t tell you how awesome this has been. I hike up my right pants leg – to not get grease on it – strap on my helmet and head off.   Cate’s bike on the other hand has been sitting in her office for sometime – looking great but sad. Yesterday, I made a quick challenge to Cate – in the vein of better health for us both. The challenge was simple. Let’s see who can have the best time riding to meeting – distance isn’t an issue, frequency and experience are the focus.

I started thinking of my challenge as I road to two meetings yesterday. I thought as the cars came around me and I was heading to Converse Deli for a delicious veggie wrap that more people should try this. So that’s where you come in. We are asking you to join in on the fun. Keep a bike at your office, head out from your house, you name it – all you have to do is ride your bike somewhere you normally would drive and tell us about it. Comment about it on this blog post – say where you went, what was the best part about it, and whether or not you will do it again.

If you are tech savy go to www.mapmyride.com sign up and recreate the route, post the link or picture for others to see. Our esteemed panel of judges (Cate and I) will look over the entries and pick the winners. Prizes may include a print of Bob Logrippo’s “Healthy Spartanburg”, we may even find a pair of globalbike socks, or a pound of globalbike coffee to give away. Regardless, please join us and tell Spartanburg that biking is better!

A recent report by the Foundation Center found that foundations are increasingly considering program-related investments (PRIs). What are PRIs, you might ask? Well, for four decades U.S. foundations have had the ability to make below-market-rate investments in activities consistent with their missions, and count these investments as part of their annual charitable distributions. What does this mean for the Mary Black Foundation (MBF) and Spartanburg County?

MBF made the initial decision to pursue PRIs in 2007. The outcome of this decision, the C.C. Woodson Community Center, will be unveiled to our community later this month. C.C. Woodson will open March 20^th and will be a wonderful resource and facility for Spartanburg residents. The 27,000 SF center will offer programs, activities and services for people of all ages and interest. The facility features a Community Room for group meetings, a Learning Center, Senior Citizen room, Teen Center, Health & Wellness Room and a 14,000 SF gymnasium. A new pool and regulation-size football field will be added after the construction is completed and the current building is demolished.

C.C. Woodson will be an incredible asset to our community. Both as a staff member of MBF and a City Council person, I am thrilled with the creativity and vision that brought this project into being for Spartanburg. The public-private partnership between the City and the Foundation allowed the dream of a new community center on the Southside to become a reality. On a recent tour, staff snapped several shots of the interior (see below). Join us for the grand opening of C.C. Woodson on the 20th, or just stop by after the opening for an inexpensive gym membership, a pickup game, or a dip in the pool.

The next planned PRI for MBF is the Stewart Park Activity Center - another partnership with the City of Spartanburg. Plans for the Activity Center began with a vision to improve conditions in the Highland neighborhood area in Spartanburg. The facility will have meeting rooms, computer labs, and a kitchen. The facility will have full-time staff and shuttle buses for transportation to other area Recreation Centers. Project construction will begin later in 2010 - stay tuned!

I have been thinking a lot lately about the earthquake disaster in Haiti and the worldwide outpouring of support for Haiti’s suffering population. Local, regional, national, and international efforts are underway to provide assistance to those devastated by the earthquake. Disrupted infrastructure within Haiti has made the efforts even more difficult; but, churches, the Salvation Army, national leaders of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Hollywood and music stars, major corporations, and individuals have mobilized, in many cases using social networking sites and cell phone contributions, to raise many millions of dollars for relief efforts. It is a great thing to be part of a society that values charity and philanthropy. 

Reflecting on the events of the last weeks in Haiti, however, I have also been concerned for other reasons. Haiti has been an independent country since 1804 and has long been the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti is our neighbor.  Although the magnitude of the response to Haiti’s disaster has been wonderful, and although the political realities within Haiti have complicated the relationship between our countries, I cannot help but wonder why we have waited until this catastrophe to express our compassion for a nation and a people who have been suffering the effects of dire poverty—and all of its consequences—for generations.

Prevention is not sexy. And success at preventing anything is much harder to measure than relief efforts. It’s always easier to count the number of people served than it is to measure whether one’s actions have actually stopped something bad from happening. But, I wonder, what might have been different in Haiti this month if we’d devoted such attention to its people and their nation before the earthquake.

I was glad to see the February 10, 2010 Spartanburg Herald Journal editorial regarding legislation that would prohibit schools from selling junk food and beverages. According to the editorial, the bill being considered would limit the sale of most candy bars, packaged muffins, donuts, fried potato chips, honey buns, etc. and sugary drinks. Students would still be able to purchase baked chips, pretzels, cereal or granola bars, low-fat milk, water, low calorie beverages, and 100% fruit juice. In the face of a rising obesity epidemic among our children, this legislation seems sensible and should be embraced. In fact, I’d like to see more being done in the schools – improving cafeteria lunches and reducing the amount of food used as incentives and rewards in the classroom – but that is an argument for another day. A la carte and vending machine junk food seems like a good start. 

A 2009 study of 441 adolescents in Spartanburg County found that 29% drink at least one can of soda a day, while only 9% drink 3 or more glasses of milk a day. According to a study published in the Lancet, the likelihood of becoming obese among children increased 1.6 times for each can of sugar-sweetened drink consumed per day. Reducing the amount of soda and other sugary beverages consumed by young people, alone, would have a tremendous impact on obesity.

Eating habits develop early in life. While I believe parents should be the ones to teach their children how to make healthy choices, schools can reinforce the importance of a healthy diet. In today’s hectic lifestyle – where many families struggle to find the time for family dinners and often rely on fast food or convenience foods – the home may not provide the best example of a balanced diet. Schools can provide an opportunity for other important adults (teachers, school nurses, etc.) to expose students to healthy eating habits. 

The issue of childhood obesity is enormous and schools are not solely responsible, but they can be a part of the solution and this legislation is a step in the right direction.