The Center Foundation’s ‘Train Your Brain’ elementary school helmet safety program returns
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Center Foundation is proud to announce the return of its annual Train Your Brain program. Prompted by an alarming increase of preventable head injuries among youth, this injury prevention program educates more than 2,000 elementary school students in Central Oregon about brain injury prevention and the importance of helmet safety.
Train Your Brain is made possible by the support of The Center Foundation community partners First Interstate Bank, Summit Health and BendBroadband.
“According to research from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 9 out of 10 bicyclists who die in crashes are not wearing helmets. Wearing a helmet can lower the risk of brain injury by up to 88 percent,” said Stuart Schmidt, Program Manager of The Center Foundation.
“We developed the Train Your Brain program 11 years ago in an effort to educate local students on the importance of wearing a helmet in a fun and engaging way. We are so grateful for our school districts for recognizing the importance of this safety initiative, and thankful for our partners at First Interstate Bank, Summit Health and BendBroadband for supporting us in reaching our goal to provide free helmets to every Central Oregon third grader who needs one.”
Each year, The Center Foundation distributes over 1,000 helmets to local elementary students through the Train Your Brain initiative. Program organizers are especially excited to return to in-person presentations after conducting the program virtually in 2021 and canceling the program in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presentations consist of an interactive assembly that provides information on injury prevention; helmet safety, fitting, and care; and features a melon drop demonstration. Following the presentation, The Center Foundation staff and volunteers will properly fit free multi-sport helmets for every student who needs one.
“Bend-La Pine Schools is very fortunate to once again have The Center Foundation sponsor the Train Your Brain program,” said Skip Offenhauser, Executive Director of Elementary Programs for Bend-La Pine Schools. “As an avid cyclist myself, I am well aware of the hazards we all face while on our bikes. Wearing a helmet is a simple, but effective habit we need to teach all of our students.
"We want to thank The Center Foundation for providing these lessons and providing students with free helmets with the help of First Interstate Bank, Summit Health, and BendBroadband. We couldn’t ask for better community partners that care about the safety of our kids!”
Train Your Brain 2022 kicks off April 27th to ensure students are prepared to enjoy summer activities in a safe manner. Helmets should always be worn when participating in any non-motorized wheeled sport like bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, or scooter riding.
To learn more about Train Your Brain, visit www.centerfoundation.org/brain-trust.
About The Center Foundation
The Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides
For over 20 years, The Center Foundation has provided certified athletic trainers to Central Oregon high schools. Its high school sports medicine program serves more than 5,000 students at over 1,400 sporting events each year, managing injuries and concussions and educating young athletes on injury prevention. These services are provided at no cost to students or their families. Foundation programs also deliver brain and spinal cord injury prevention education in grade schools, free multi-sport helmets to children in need, and education seminars and conferences for healthcare professionals. Since 2000, The Center Foundation has been Central Oregon’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to providing sports medicine services as a means to ensure youth are safe, healthy, and protected in an active lifestyle. To learn more, visit www.centerfoundation.org.
