HOUSTON–Tenet Healthcare Foundation on behalf of Park Plaza Hospital has donated $10,000 to the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science. A portion of the contribution will benefit the Museum’s School Field Trip Program for Houston area students.

As the Museum’s largest program, The School Field Trip Program attracts tens of thousands of pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students in Harris and surrounding counties each year. Impressed by the Museum’s unique exhibits, programs and interactive science classes, Houston and Spring Brach Independent School Districts have included a visit to the Museum as part of all fifth and sixth grade student’s health science curricula.

"Our goal for this donation is to help the Museum continue to educate Houston’s youth on the importance of healthy lifestyles. We hope the students come away with a better understanding of how their bodies work and how to keep them healthy," said Lex Gwen, Chief Executive of Park Plaza Hospital.

The busy lifestyles children and parents lead today leave little time for planning healthy snacks. These unhealthy eating habits so early on in kids are attributed to the rapidly rising number of young children with diabetes and obesity.

"We teach our visitors to be good stewards of their own bodies and to make positive lifestyle choices. Through field trips, we specifically target children with the realization that healthy (and unhealthy) behaviors that begin in childhood are often carried into adulthood," said Randy Ray, Museum Executive Director.

With the growing Hispanic population in Houston, the Museum offers the Field Trips in an English or Spanish format. Additionally, every program and hands-on science class is customized to best serve the age of students participating as well as correspond with the material being covered in the classroom. This ensures that this unique educational experience will be beneficial to most students.

To find out more information about the Museum of Health & Medical Science or make reservations for The Field Trip Program, visit their website on-line at www.mhms.org.

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