(College Station)—The Active for Life program at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, which seeks to increase the number of physically active mid-life and older adults, received the Cornerstone Award from the Texas Conference on Aging in Dallas last month.
The Cornerstone Award is presented to an organization that has made a significant contribution in the field of aging on a local, state or national level.
Under the direction of Marcia Ory, Active for Life has grown significantly since its inception in 2002 in part because of support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program implements two research-based programs into existing community structures that include the aging network, public health departments, health care systems, faith-based organizations, social service agencies and adult learning centers.
The Active for Life National Program Office at the School of Rural Public Health coordinates the activities of nine program sites nationwide.
“We are thrilled that Active for Life was recognized as a major contributor in the field of aging,” Ory said. “Active for Life and the School of Rural Public Health are committed to translating research into practice. It is our hope that such programs can be distributed throughout the state of Texas to improve the health and well-being of the growing population of older Texans.” 