Our History
1992
Governor issues Executive Order 1992-5, creating the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports with Dr. Vern Seefeldt named as first Council chair.
1994
Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) incorporates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to serve as the fiscal home of the Governor’s Council, supported by $1,000,000 from the Healthy Michigan Fund.
1995
Vern Seefeldt Lifetime Achievement Award 1995–1998 presented for the first time.
1995–1998
MFF contracts with MSU to begin work on a curriculum that eventually becomes the Exemplary Physical Education CurriculumTM (EPECTM).
1997
The Event Endorsement Program launches, highlighting physical activity events throughout Michigan.
1998
EPECTM introduced at kindergarten, first, and second grades.
Partnership with Farm Bureau Insurance built to promote the All Children Exercise Simultaneously (ACES) event in Michigan schools.
1999
Statewide awards presentation created to honor communities, healthy workplaces, amateur sports awards, physical activity programs, and exemplary physical education programs (commonly referred to as the Governor’s Fitness Awards).
2000
EPECTM introduced at third, fourth, and fifth grades.
Michigan Governor’s Council named State Council of the Year by the National Association for Governor’s Councils on Physical Fitness and Sports.
2002
EPECTM receives the Award for Excellence in Prevention Research and Research Translation in Chronic Disease (given by CDC). Nominated by Jean Chabut, Deputy Director, the Michigan Department of Community Health.
2003
MFF begins physical activity and nutrition programming with the Food Stamp Program in partnership with the Michigan Department of Human Services.
2004
Labor Day Bridge Run initiated as a lottery opportunity for runners in the Governor’s Council Endorsement Program to run across the Mackinac Bridge.
2007
National Oberstar Award for Safe Routes to School presented to the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, and the Michigan Fitness Foundation.
2008
Fit BitsTM introduced to promote physical activity in school classrooms.
PE-NutTM program released, combining nutrition education and physical education to reach students and their parents in low-income Michigan schools.
2010
MFF became a State Implementing Agency for SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) in partnership with the Michigan Department of Human Services (now the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.)
2011
MFF launches They Learn from Watching You, a social marketing campaign to motivate increasing physical activity and eating more fruits and vegetables.
2012
Pure Michigan Fitness Series announced in partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
MFF introduces the Michigan Harvest of the MonthTM campaign to encourage and support fruit and vegetable consumption.
2015
MFF receives the John A. Seeley Friend of Evaluation Award from the Michigan Association of Evaluators.
2018
MFF initiates Safe Routes to Health, an AmeriCorps program, in five communities throughout MI in partnership with the Michigan Civil Services Commission. Members’ service focuses on physical activity and nutrition for residents in each local community.
