Our Foundation

The National Fitness Foundation was created to serve and support the Council's mission to engage, educate, and empower all Americans across the lifespan to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition.

The National Fitness Foundation was established by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President Obama on December 22, 2010. The Foundation works with the Council and the private sector to accelerate solutions that prepare children for a lifetime of health & fitness. With the focus on ensuring that all students have access to quality physical education, the Foundation leads the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, the nation's model for fitness assessment and education in schools.

The original concept for the Foundation was developed by current member of the Board of Directors, Tom McMillen, who previously served two terms on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, including as co-chair during the Clinton Administration.

The members of the Foundation's Board of Directors are appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the leadership of Congress. The inaugural Board of Directors was appointed on March 22, 2011 by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.