Presenting the Walmart Foundation Check to BOUNCE are Texas Senator Sylvia Garcia (3rd from the left) and Houston Council Member, Robert Gallegos (4th from the left) at the Walmart Superstore, 239 S. Wayside Drive on July 21, 2016.

The College of Education, University of Houston (UH COE) BOUNCE Healthy Lifestyle Programs and the Hispanic Health Coalition were the recipients of a $28,000 donation from the Walmart Foundation to help with efforts that empower families to develop a healthy way of life.

BOUNCE (Behavior Opportunities Uniting Counseling and Education) is a month-long summer camp for low-income Hispanic and African-American adolescent girls and their families that blends physical activities with cooking lessons, creative crafts and self-esteem sessions.

Walmart officials presented the award on Thursday, July 21 at the Walmart Superstore located at 239 S. Wayside Drive, 77023. Many of the young participants from BOUNCE, the dean of the College of Education, Robert McPherson, the Hispanic Health Coalition board members and State officials attended.

Girls participating in this year’s BOUNCE camp were on hand to demonstrate how to make healthy snacks. They took their grocery lists into the Walmart Superstore to demonstrate how to shop healthy.

“We are very grateful to Walmart for believing in us and for sharing our goals for a healthy community,” said Norma Olvera, UH COE professor and director of BOUNCE. “We are proud to partner with Walmart on this critical issue. Thanks to them, BOUNCE will be able to change the lives of more girls and their families.”

Funding from the Walmart Foundation will support the nutrition component of the program, as well as the BOUNCE FUN with Food program, a nutrition and cooking program for fourth and fifth grade (boys and girls).

BOUNCE is an academic-community collaboration, which, since 2005, has been advocating for healthy lifestyles for families through food choices, exercise and positive self-esteem.