On Friday, GivingPoint kicked-off our “MLK Remembered: Building Healthy Communities” campaign, where we engaged students in a variety of environmental and health awareness service-learning activities.

From bringing students together at the New Schools at Carver, to enhancing a garden at Coan Middle School, to hosting a "Stop the Bullying" campaign with the YMCA, GivingPoint is empowering young people to make powerful changes in the Atlanta area.

Tonight, we partnered with the YMCA to host over 300 students and parents at the Studio Movie Grill in Alpharetta to see the recently-released movie, “Fat Boy Chronicles”. After the movie, we hosted group discussions and reviewed action steps that youth can take to live healthier lifestyles free of bullying and humiliation.

Inspired by true events, "The Fat Boy Chronicles" reveals the emotionally painful world obese teens experience. At age fourteen, 5'5 Jimmy weighs 187 pounds. The cruel taunts of his classmates make going to school or playing sports a humiliating experience. He continues to make poor eating decisions that affect his health, until he asks his family for support.

Today, youth took positive steps to make a difference and become cause-driven leaders!