For Immediate Release: 12/17/2007                             

For More Information:                                                                     
Connie Stillwell                                                                                        
Director of Programs   
connie.stillwell@asbsfoundation.org
(352) 332-9100

Walk from Obesity Honors Memory of Walk Founder, Bryan G. Woodward,
with the Bryan G. Woodward Community Grant Program

Gainesville, Fla.– The Walk from Obesity is proud to announce the formation of the Bryan G. Woodward Community Grant Program. The program was founded to support local initiatives to address the obesity epidemic in cities that host an Obesity Action Coalition and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery(ASMBS) Foundation Walk from Obesity. Only those organizations located in a Walk city may apply (for a list of Walk cities, visit www.walkfromobesity.com). Preference is given to those who participated in the Walk from Obesity. Awarding of grants will be in amounts of $5,000 or less, and approximately 10 projects will receive funding annually.

This past October, Bryan Gerard Woodward died following a courageous battle with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Bryan served as the Chief Bariatric Officer at Nashville's Baptist Hospital. A member of the ASMBS, his life's work was for the care and counseling of the morbidly obese.

To date, the Walk has provided nearly 2.3 million dollars to support prevention, education, advocacy and research efforts. With Bryan’s persistence and dedication, the initial steps of the first Walk lead to a vigorous future for individuals who may not have thought it a possibility in their lifetime.

In September and October, in more than 70 cities across the United States, those affected by the disease of obesity join forces and walk to raise money for education, research, advocacy, prevention and treatment of obesity in the Annual Walk from Obesity. In 2007, more than 16,000 walkers and donors participated in the event and raised more than $750,000 nationwide.

For more information on the Bryan G. Woodward Community Grant Program, please visit the “Activities” section of the ASMBS Foundation Web site at www.asmbsfoundation.org.

The ASMBS Foundation and Obesity Action Coalition’s Walk from Obesity was established to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic and to support initiatives focusing on prevention, education, research, treatment and advocacy. Walkers raise money by asking friends, family and co-workers to sponsor them. In addition to walker income, funds are raised through sponsorship, matching gifts, corporate contributions and other fundraising activities.

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