Nominate your school for a chance to win $25,000

About 17 percent of U.S. youngsters are obese -- that's 12.5 million between the ages of 2 and 19 years old, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Many do not get enough physical activity daily. Some live in areas where it is too dangerous to play outdoors, and some schools can no longer afford to keep gym-related fitness in the budget.

So to help improve health and fitness in schools, Henkel, a home and personal products company, along with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, launched it's annual Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program.

The Henkel Helps contest encourages parents, educators and community members to nominate their local schools by answering the question: How could $25,000 be used to improve fitness, inspire self-esteem and build teamwork in your school? If you can answer that fundamental question, your designated school could win $25,000 in fitness cash.

Simply nominate your school at HenkelHelps.com and tell why your school should win the money. Nominations are open now through Sept. 16.

Henkel will choose five finalists who will receive a video camera to highlight the health and fitness issues facing their schools and what their plans are for using the $25,000. On Nov. 7, the finalists will be announced and the public will have a chance to select  the winning school, which will be announced on Dec. 4.