Boise Lawmaker to Donate 

'Walking Winnings' to Promote Fitness at Pierce Park 

What: I daho State Representative Matt Erpelding (District 19) will donate his winnings from the 2017 Steps for Schools Challenge to Pierce Park Elementary School in Boise. Sponsored by Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation, the Steps for Schools Challenge encourages legislators to wear a Fit-Bit tracker throughout the month of February, logging their steps for the month. Winners of the challenge earned cash to fund physical activity equipment or walking programs at schools in their legislative district. 

Representative Erpelding logged more than 800,000 steps (roughly 400 miles).  It was a tight competition between Rep. Erpelding and Rep. Giddings (the winner). As the runner-up, Rep. Erpelding won the right to donate $3,000 from BCIF toward physical activity equipment or walking programs in his school district.  The money will go toward the purchase of volleyball equipment at Pierce Park Elementary School, as well as support for the "Panther Pacers Program", a physical fitness program at Pierce Park. 

When:  Thursday, April 13, 2017; 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Where:  Pierce Park Elementary School, 5015 N. Pierce Park Ln., Boise. (News media representatives should check-in at the school's main office upon arriving).

Who:  

• Idaho State Representative Mat Erpelding (D), District 19 
• Chris Ryan, Principal, Pierce Park Elementary School
• Dan Hollar, Public Affairs Administrator, Boise School District
• Pierce Park Elementary School students

Media Visuals:   Students will run/walk laps around the Pierce Park playground with Representative Erpelding following his check presentation to Principal Chris Ryan in the school's cafeteria.  

Background:  The High Five Children's Health Collaborative, powered by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation, created Steps for Schools to accomplish four goals:

1. To educate our lawmakers about the current state of childhood health
2. To position legislators as role models for Idaho students
3. To spark community conversations about health within legislators' districts
4. To ultimately promote childhood wellness statewide

The competition targeted legislators because of their leadership capabilities in their communities.  

The winning legislators are:

First Place:
Representative Priscilla Giddings. Representative Giddings averaged 30,254 steps each day and had a total of 847,106 steps for the month! She will be donating her $3,000 to Timberline Elementary in Weippe.

Second Place:
Representative Mat Erpelding. Representative Erpelding averaged 30,046 steps each day and had a total of 821,292 steps for the month! Because the competition between Rep. Erpelding and Rep. Giddings was so close, the decision was made to increase Rep. Erpelding's donation from $2,000 to $3,000 that he will be able to present to Pierce Park Elementary in Boise. Representative Erpelding won the competition in 2015 and was runner-up last year.

Third Place:
Representative Bryan Zollinger. Representative Zollinger averaged 29,319 steps each day and had a total of 800,921 steps for the month! He will be donating his $1,000 to the Idaho Falls School District in Idaho Falls.  

News Media Contact:

Dan Hollar

Public Affairs Administrator

Boise School District  

(208) 854-4064

dan.hollar@boiseschools.org  

www.boiseschools.org