The magic of Clever Crazes for Kids didn't come out of a hat. Dianne Dunkelman was inspired to create a project that responded to thousands of requests from the women who attended Speaking of Women's Health (SWH) conferences across the country. They asked her to address the issue of helping our kids live healthier lives. At SWH, women had a lot of fun while learning how to be healthier. They were so inspired to make healthy changes that also lifted their zest for life that they said, "let's do the same thing for our kids!"
Dianne formed an incredible Health and Education Advisory Committee to determine how to best develop the four focus areas which she knew needed to be addressed. She believed that there was a "golden thread" that wove together nutrition, physical activity, self esteem and living green. She also knew that, just like giving the women of SWH "what they wanted to hear and the way they wanted to hear it" through "edu-tainment," it was critical to "edu-tain" the kids. SO..... www.clevercrazes.com was born.
As parents, caregivers and teachers, you will have fun exploring our Web site, and you will see why the kids are laughing, learning and loving the time they are spending becoming the healthier kids and young adults that we all aspire for them to be.
In 2006, Dianne became increasingly aware of the prevalence of childhood obesity. This concern led to her development of Clever Crazes for Kids, a program focused on reducing the incidence of overweight and obesity in our young population. The program encompasses children ages 6 through12 and also reaches their teachers, parents and caregivers. Weaving a "golden thread" throughout the daily experiences of children, this education effort includes nutrition, physical activity, self-esteem/bullying and respect for the environment.
Workbooks, placemats, pedometers, lunch boxes, backpacks, water bottles, 3-ring binders and pencil cases and many other items have been created and distributed free of charge to teachers' free stores across the country by Clever Crazes for Kids. The reach has grown from 40,000 pieces of material in 2006 to more than 800,000 in 2009.
The materials have been lauded by the educational community who ask for increasingly more to benefit their students. The program has an advisory board of outstanding academics and health-care providers who play an active role in its continuing development. Five 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) have been produced to spotlight the issues and engage children, their teachers, parents and caregivers. These PSAs are available, free of charge, to broadcast media across the country, which have within their mission the desire to educate and enhance the lives of children.
ABOUT DIANNE DUNKELMAN AND SPEAKING OF WOMEN'S HEALTH
Dianne Dunkelman, Founder & immediate past CEO of Speaking of Women's Health, began the organization in 1996 as a one-day women's health event in Cincinnati. Her leadership has been the inspiration for the expansion of Speaking of Women's Health to a national foundation with more than 50 conferences and events in more than 40 cities nationwide. Through conferences, television, the Web site, books and other materials, the lives of hundreds-of-millions of women and their families were impacted.
In December of 2008, under the guidance of Ms. Dunkelman, a number of the branded projects of the National Speaking of Women's Health Foundation were transferred to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Those branded projects included Speaking of Women's Health, Universal Sisters, an outreach program dedicated to African-American women and Hablando de la Salud de la Mujer, an outreach program dedicated to Hispanic women.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Dianne has been recognized throughout the country for her women's health initiatives. On October 10, 2008, she was honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at their 53rd annual Freedom Fund Dinner in recognition of her work to advance healthcare on behalf of women of color and their families. The March of Dimes, in 2007 honored Dianne for her work with women and infants. In 2004, Dianne was honored with The National Conference for Community and Justice Citation Award, and in 2003, she received the Northwood University Distinguished Women Award. She received a YWCA Career Women of Achievement Award in 2001 and the Athena Award from the Partnership for Women's Health at Columbia University in 2000. In 1999, Dianne was recognized as one of Cincinnati's Leading Women for her advocacy in women's health, and in 1996, she received the Charles W. Vaughan Award for her work with public television.
Dianne remains passionate for her state and community. In June 2009 she was inducted into the Association of Ohio Commodores by appointment of Gov. Ted Strickland. She also currently serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the University of Cincinnati Foundation; Contemporary Arts Center and YWCA. She has been active in supporting the arts and civic endeavors in Cincinnati, specifically the Cincinnati Ballet Company, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center. Through local efforts, she was selected in 1992 for the National Philanthropy Award by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, was honored with a Post Corbett Award in 1991, and was named a Cincinnati Enquirer Woman of the Year in 1989.