GAINESVILLE, Fla.—University of Florida alumna Fitz Koehler hopes to win a $250,000 grant from Pepsi which will fund 180 short fitness videos that will be disseminated to every school in the state of Florida.

The grant, sponsored by the Pepsi Refresh Project is giving away more than $1 million to fund “great ideas,” according to their Web site. The winners are determined by the number of votes, and Koehler is hoping The Gator Nation can help her win.

“My personal passion is educating children toward a healthier lifestyle, so targeting school children is a top priority,” said Koehler, who received a master’s in exercise and sport sciences from the College of Health and Human Performance in 1998. “I’ve had incredible success educating adults through short fitness video podcasts, and I know this will provide a unique opportunity to give daily fitness and nutrition guidance to children at little cost.”

Koehler is working with a non-profit organization Be Active Florida, which focuses on improving the health and fitness levels of Floridians. If Koehler is awarded the grant 180 DVDs will be designed for grades K-12, providing a brief, age-appropriate lesson in health and fitness. Koehler will target the messages for grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Koehler’s videos will feature various sports stars and entertainment celebrities enforcing positive messages about being healthy.

The goal of this project is to increase fitness levels, fight childhood obesity and promoting sports and exercise as a form of fun and stress relief. This grant will be used for paying for production, talent, DVDs and shipping fees.

To vote for Koehler's project, please visit http://www.refresheverything.com/FitFloridaKids. Voting ends Feb. 28.

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