Highway to Health Festival - New York City, all five boroughs

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HealthCorps^® and Dr. Oz Brought Child Obesity Awareness to Borough-Wide Health Fairs with Lil Mama, Talia Coles, DJ Kut of Power 105, Trainer Jillian Michaels and City Officials

NEW YORK-HealthCorps^®, a groundbreaking health educational and mentoring program founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz, cardiac surgeon, best-selling author and Health Expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show, held New York City's largest ever health festival spanning all five boroughs on Saturday, May 31, 2008.

Celebrities who joined Dr. Oz in his message to make healthier choices for a longer and fuller life, included: Lil Mama, Talia Coles, DJ Kut from Power 105FM and Councilman Joel Rivera at the Bronx festival; Mr. Met, Jared Scharf and the Royals and the Drumadics at the Queens festival; trainer Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser and DJ Iesha Sekou at the Manhattan festival; Giants' trainers Jerry Palmieri and Markus Paul, Marty Markowitz and Miss Cyclone at the Brooklyn festival; and singers from the legendary Force MD's and 5L and Councilman Vincent Ignizio at the Staten Island festival.

Each health festival reflected the borough's local flavor and featured a range of entertainment for all ages, from live music, DJ's, and marching bands to step teams, singers, dancers and jugglers.

Highway to Health festivals offered communities free health screenings, specialty fitness classes, healthy food booths, cooking demonstrations, sports contests, prizes, and giveaways. Supporting partners included New York City Council, Boriken Neighborhood Health Center, Chiquita, Mueller's Pasta, New York Sports Clubs, Plan to Excel, School Food, Snapple Antioxidant Water, Susan G Komen Foundation, Vemma Nutrition Co, Affinity Health Plan, American Italian Cancer Foundation, Green Market, New York City Coalition Against Hunger, New York Road Runners Foundation, New York State Podiatric Association, Spirituality for Kids, and Yoga to the People.

According to Dr. Oz, "After finding myself operating on patients in their 20's and 30's, I founded HealthCorps to educate teens on making healthier lifestyle choices. Our goal is to empower students throughout the country to become educated consumers and health activists in their families and towns. The Highway to Health fairs represented a central part of HealthCorps' mission to reach often neglected communities to make them more aware of health facilities and resources in their backyard."