FirstHealth of the Carolina has received a grant from the N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) to make Pinehurst a "Fit Community."

The Fit Community initiative recognizes and rewards North Carolina municipality- and county-led efforts to promote physical activity and healthy eating programs, policies, environments and lifestyles.

"By promoting healthy living, these communities are making a real difference," says North Carolina Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, HWTF chair. "Pinehurst is improving the well-being of its residents and helping lead the way to a healthier North Carolina."

The $57,000 grant awarded to FirstHealth in partnership with Pinehurst Elementary School and the village of Pinehurst provides funding over a two-year period that begins July 1. It seeks to establish a greenway connection between Pinehurst Elementary School and Cannon Park to encourage "walkability."

The funding will also provide educational programs on safe routes to school, crosswalks and incentive programs to increase physical activity.

All North Carolina municipalities were eligible to apply for the two-year grant funding. Over the past three years, HWTF has awarded nearly $1.5 million in grants as part of Fit Community.

Obesity has emerged as a major threat to children and adults across the United States, and especially here in North Carolina. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 61 percent of North Carolina adults are overweight or obese, with obesity-related expenses adding up to more than $2.1 billion annually. HWTF's Fit Community initiative supports local efforts to address the problem.

More information about Fit Community program is available on the Web at www.FitCommun-ityNC.org.

The HWTF funds programs that promote preventive health. Created by the General Assembly in 2000 to allocate a portion of the state's share of the national tobacco settlement, HWTF has invested $143 million to support preventive health initiatives and $102 million to fund prescription drug assistance programs.