We Can!™ Scores 4.5 Million Media Impressions with Tab Ramos Tour

Posted February 3‚ 2010

Olympic soccer star Tab Ramos has skills that excel both on and off the pitch (a.k.a. the soccer field). In fact‚ it’s his ability to pitch children and their parents–and the media–on becoming more physically active‚ reducing screen time‚ and eating right that helped We Can! recently reach 4.5 million Americans on the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition.

That statistic reflects the number of potential viewers‚ readers‚ and listeners who could tune into media coverage of a speaking and media tour that Ramos made to We Can! community sites in the Atlanta‚ Houston‚ and San Diego areas.

The tour focused on promoting a healthier lifestyle to Spanish–speaking communities and media in those locations‚ and was sponsored by SUBWAY® restaurants as part of its partnership with We Can!. At each location‚ Ramos spoke to children in both Spanish and English about the importance of eating well and staying active.

On November 13‚ in Atlanta‚ Ramos spoke to hundreds of children at Cobb County’s Green Acres Elementary School‚ during two school assemblies. Following his presentations‚ students played soccer–oriented games with Ramos and soccer stars from a nearby high school.

“Green Acres Elementary School is over 70 percent Hispanic‚ so the students take soccer very seriously‚” said Amy Hoffman‚ public health educator at Cobb & Douglas Public Health‚ a We Can! site‚ and coordinator of the event. “One kid‚ in particular‚ was so in awe that he couldn’t even talk in Tab’s presence!”

Ramos did plenty of talking for everyone‚ however‚ meeting with Hispanic and other local media prior to and during each event‚ in order to bring attention to We Can! and its messages.

In Atlanta‚ Tab kicked off his visit to the city by swinging by CNN Espanol‚ which is based there. His interview at CNN Espanol reached as many as 108‚000 potential viewers.

 

In Houston‚ Ramos presented to hundreds of local residents at a cultural festival sponsored by a new We Can! community site‚ Neighborhood Centers‚ Inc.‚ which serves many at–risk communities.

“I liked getting my face painted and playing on the moonwalks‚” said Jacqueline Sanchez‚ a seven year old who attended the event. “I also liked when the soccer player was talking to us because he made me feel special.”

Hundreds of people also turned out for an afternoon of soccer following a presentation to students at Otay Elementary in Chula Vista‚ California‚ near San Diego.

In all three locations‚ Ramos and his soccer skills not only attracted soccer fans of all ages; he also attracted lots of media interest on television stations‚ radio stations‚ newspapers‚ and magazines.

All in all‚ his quick footwork scored a big goal for We Can! this fall and winter.