Dear Friends:
2020 and 2021 will go down in history as being one of the most challenging periods in our lifetime. We saw and experienced things we never could have imagined. On March 13, 2020 when the local schools closed, we thought it would be a two week break and then back to our normal routines. Little did we know that COVID-19 would creep into 2021. Ninety-nine per cent of the world’s children live with some form of pandemic-related movement restrictions1 and 1.5 billion children are currently out of school2. The isolation combined with the negative impacts of social media and a screen obsessed culture is a recipe for disaster. The mental effects of this pandemic on children will be significant and long lasting, and the most vulnerable populations will suffer the most.
We know that exercise and play are critical to relieving stress, anxiety, and depression as well as provide an additional number of benefits. It is the most natural and efficient way to mitigate negative health outcomes. Personally, I can say I am a different person on the days that I run or walk at the start of my day. My dream is to help create a world where every child is given the opportunity to engage in active play for at least an hour a day.
With these difficult circumstances comes opportunity for change. Despite these catastrophic events plaguing our world, we still pushed forward. Our children are resilient, and they continue to shine. We redefined what it is to be a family again. We are learning how to better support one another on a deeper level, regardless of race, gender or ability and while we all still have a long way to go, we are growing. And we are optimistic.
Over the course of this last year, we were able to get a great deal off the ground. Like most of the world, BOKS went virtual, offering content and programming to all from the ease of your laptops, smart phones and devices. Our learning management platform was redesigned to create an efficient and effective BOKS program for our schools, youth organization and parents. We moved swiftly and we were able to deliver quality resources for both remote and hybrid learning environments, providing a safe and healthy outlet for kids to keep moving while in quarantine.
Our longstanding commitment to equity and inclusion, and getting kids of all abilities active, was reconfirmed by our partnership launch with Special Olympics. We signed a multi-year collaboration with Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® to get kids more active across the country, helping establish a lifelong commitment to health and fitness. Through this partnership, BOKS deepened its commitment to inclusive movement for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) and communities across the globe by enriching its curriculum.
We also launched a nationwide grant program here in the US to better support our underserved communities in a more equitable way.
And crazy enough, we celebrated our 10 Year Anniversary this year! Our promise to get kids active physically, mentally and socially has resulted in over 500,000 kids moving and more than 8,000 trainers.
BOKS couldn’t be prouder of where we are today as an organization, and we would not be here without each of you. Our path has been long, but each step we’ve made has been due to our incredible community. They say you are a product of the people you surround yourself with, so thank you. Thank you to my team, all our BOKS Trainers and our hundreds of thousands of BOKS Kids for believing in the importance of physical activity over these last ten years.
All My Best,
Kathleen Tullie,
Founder and Executive Director
Our Mission
Provide schools, youth-based organizations and families with access to daily quality physical activity that inspires kids to move.
Our Vision
To create a future of healthier and happier kids across the globe, with a focus on underserved youth.
BOKS Core Values
BOKS is committed to creating innovative programming to serve underrepresented youth, aligned to our values: (1) integrity, (2) compassion, (3) inclusivity,(4) collaboration, and (5) fun; so that we may nurture the love of movement in every child through physical activity and play.
Integrity: We must be accountable for our actions; owning the wins as well as our mistakes is how we learn and grow. Children deserve a world that values truth and honesty, and strong morals are what guide us at BOKS.
Compassion: Having empathy is one of our leading principles. It fuels our connection with others, and our trainers with the kids on a day to day basis. At BOKS we listen and always try to understand where our colleagues are coming from and appreciate other perspectives when they are different than ours.
Inclusivity: Our program was built for anyone and everyone, no matter who they are. At BOKS we strive to make every experience one that can be had by all.
Collaboration: We are stronger together at BOKS. No one succeeds in a silo and building the right community is the first step to our success.
Fun: Simply said, fun is what drives us. It is portrayed in our programming, our day to day conversations and in our work. We believe fun should be a part of everything we do at BOKS.
How BOKS Pivoted During COVID
Pivot seems to be the key word for 2020. In line with many other nonprofit organizations and brands, as soon as COVID hit, BOKS immediately turned our strategy around to be sure to meet parents, teachers and all our existing BOKS trainers where they needed us most.
With schools and community centers closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, BOKS needed a way to transition their messaging toward parents. The team worked diligently to offer online FB Live classes and free At-Home Resources including physical activity games and lesson plans to stay active while at home.
This year, BOKS created 14 new resources which allowed for over 85,000 downloads, ultimately keeping kids active and healthy amid stay at home orders.
2020 BOKS by the Numbers
Total BOKS Burst Program Subscribers 0
Kids Active in 2020 0
BOKS Training Attendees 0
BOKS Video Views 0
New Resources in 2020 0
Looking Back at 2020
10 Year Anniversary Recap
How did we get here so soon? It seems like just yesterday our founder, Kathleen Tullie, was getting the program up and going in her school. Thank you for all your support over the years and for being such a significant part of our lives and all the children you’ve kept moving.
BOKS Social Media Impact
BOKS in Action
Learn more about how BOKS Trainers are bringing the program to life and getting kids active.
BOKS in the news
10/01/20
Reebok to Donate 5% of All Kids Footwear to Get Children Active and Healthy
Reebok to Donate 5% of All Kids Footwear to Get Children Active and Healthy Brand Partners with DSW to Support BOKS and Increase its Impact in Underserved Communities (BOSTON, MA) OCTOBER 1, 2020 — Starting today, Reebok will donate 5% of all Kids Footwear sales on its US ecommerce site to BOKS(Build Our Kids’ Success) [...] Read More
09/11/20
BOKS ANNOUNCES $200K GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
Funds, training, and programmatic support bring equitable access to activity and play to more children in-need during COVID-19 and beyond (BOSTON) SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 — Today BOKS (Build Our Kids’ Success), an initiative of the Reebok Foundation, announced a $200,000 grant program that will support its efforts to provide equal access to physical activity and [...] Read More
05/07/20
BOKS and Special Olympics Announce Partnership to Enhance Physical Activity for Children of All Abilities
BOKS deepens its commitment to inclusive movement for children and communities across the globe by enriching its curriculum with help from Special Olympics BOSTON, MA, May 7, 2020 – BOKS, an initiative of the Reebok Foundation, and Special Olympics have announced a multi-year collaboration to enrich BOKS’ physical activity program with inclusive strategies for kids [...] Read More
Partner Story
BOKS partners with like-minded value aligned brands and organizations to close the movement gap and provide kids free physical activity.
Other Key Partners
Funding Partners
Board Of Advisors
Here is a sampling of quotes from a few BOKS advisors who are included in our governing body that work with us to address the lack of physical activity for kids.
“This year has been more challenging for our society than I ever could have imagined and having worked in healthcare for so long I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like it. What has remained consistent, and in fact is even more essential now, is the need for children to move daily; to help with their mental, physical and social health. I’ve been on the BOKS Board of Advisors for a long time and how I saw them pivot when this virus came about is admirable. They’ve adapted their content for parents and teachers alike, created additional physical activity programming for not only kids but young adults and seniors, and they’ve continued to strengthen the connection with their BOKS community by providing supplementary unrestricted grant funding during this difficult time. I’m delighted to work with the BOKS team to help get kids moving across the globe.”
Elsie M. Taveras, MD, MPH
Executive Director, Kraft Center for Community Health
Division Chief, General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital
“In 2020, allies in physical activity promotion collaborated to keep people moving, even while we stayed at home. The BOKS team was able to quickly pivot to offering digital options to help families meet their physical activity needs. As a longtime partner, ACE is proud to work with BOKS to raise awareness regarding the importance of regular participation in physical activity for children’s physical and mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM
President and Chief Science Officer
American Council on Exercise
At Blue Cross we are committed to advancing the health and wellbeing of children and families in Massachusetts. Helping young people learn the importance of being active and the value of a healthy lifestyle is critical to creating a more vibrant community for everyone. Research shows that regular physical activity can improve physical and mental health for children and adults. That’s why our partnership with BOKS is so important. And at no time is this work more critical than during a global health pandemic. COVID-19 has created many challenges to achieving this goal, so we appreciate the flexibility of the BOKS program and the virtual opportunities they provide for children and families to remain active and have fun together!
Jeff Bellows
Vice President, Corporate Citizenship + Public Affairs
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Looking Forward
We could never have predicted what 2020 would bring us but we are grateful for the challenges and new direction in which we have been able to continue to help keep kids moving and engaged.
2021 and beyond we are committed to expanding on the below:
Innovative Content Creation, Design and Delivery
Strengthening Program and collective impact through partnerships
