Program aimed at improving wellness

COLUMBIA -- The Zest Quest, which Gov. Mark Sanford touted in his State of the State address, is a project that was more than a year in the making, Spartanburg's Karen Floyd said Wednesday night.

"This is a multi-dimensional approach to wellness involving hospital systems and school districts in Spartanburg, Greenville and Pickens counties," said Floyd, president of The Palladian Group, which will handle public relations for the program.

Floyd said the program's mission is to educate and motivate children to have and maintain healthy lifestyles. The pilot will be rolled out on Feb. 23.

Inman Elementary School, Cowpens Middle School and D.R. Hill Middle School will be among the six schools participating in the pilot.

Funding is coming from businessman Jim Anthony, developer of the Cliffs golf communities. Floyd said physicians Richard Hawkins and Jim Silliman of the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic and George Haddad of Pediatric Associates and Bill Schmidt of Greenville played key roles in developing the program.

The program will include kiosks that will be placed in the schools to provide Web-based learning, Floyd said.

Mentorship programs with many area colleges and universities are included, as are hospital screenings.

Floyd said more details would be announced today.

"This is an ambitious project," Floyd said. "Once the pilot is successfully completed, a larger scope of schools will be involved."

More Headlines