INDIANAPOLIS (December 6, 2018) – The 500 Festival, a nonprofit organization providing life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500®, today announces the organization’s multi-year partnership with St. Vincent, to create the 500 Festival’s first ever Fitness Zone & Obstacle Course. The 500 Festival Fitness Zone & Obstacle Course, presented by St. Vincent Sports Performance, will be launched at the 2019 Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day.

“St. Vincent is excited to be the presenting sponsor for the Fitness Zone & Obstacle Course,” said Jonathan Nalli, Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent. “Our physicians and staff at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and St. Vincent Sports Performance encourage kids and adults to have fun by staying active. This event is a great way to reinforce the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in addition to giving families a fun way to stay active and connect with those we serve.”

The 500 Festival Fitness Zone & Obstacle Course, presented by St. Vincent Sports Performance, will provide thousands of Hoosier children with engaging fitness and health content and activities so they can stretch their minds and their muscles. Unveiling the Fitness Zone & Obstacle Course at one of Indiana's largest free events for kids is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of a healthy lifestyle to Indiana’s next generation.

“Our hope is to enhance the quality of life for youth and keep those health initiatives top of mind,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Connecting the two just makes sense. We hope it will continue our mission of enriching lives by impacting and connecting to youth for years to come.”

The Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day is Indiana’s largest free outdoor festival just for kids! On the second Saturday of May, kids take over Monument Circle for a Month of May celebration that’s sized for them. Kids’ Day features a wide variety of interactive, educational displays in a carnival-like atmosphere. At Kids’ Day you can: participate in drumming workshops, learn Bollywood-style dancing, paint your very own masterpiece, race mini cars, make sashes with the 500 Festival Princesses, and so much more! Kids can also enjoy entertainment at the Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day Stage, presented by McDonald’s. From The Boom Squad drum line to Ballet Folklorico Mosaicos, there are performances for all interests.

To learn more about the Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Kid’s Day, please visit www.500festival.com/kidsday.

About the 500 Festival

Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization producing more than 50 life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and foster positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. One of the largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $400 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com, follow us on Twitter @500festival, or on Facebook.

About St. Vincent

In Indiana, Ascension’s St. Vincent operates 24 hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices and clinics serving central and southern Indiana and employs more than 15,000 associates. Across the state, St. Vincent provided more than $323 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2018. Serving Indiana for 145 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension, the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 151 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.stvincent.org.

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