“Top Chef All-Stars” Winner Richard Blais and “Today” Financial Editor Jean Chatzky to Run ING New York City Marathon

(NEW YORK, N.Y.) July 31, 2012 – Running one marathon and raising $44,000 wasn’t enough for celebrity chef Richard Blais. Instead, Blais has committed to returning to lead a team of 35 marathoners to raise funds in support of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the William J. Clinton Foundation in the 2012 ING New York City Marathon.  This year, Blais is joined by award-winning journalist, best-selling author and financial editor for NBC’s Today,Jean Chatzky, who will co-captain the team.

One in 3 kids in America is overweight or obese. Team Healthier Generation, a national fundraiser for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, is inspiring runners across America to combat the childhood disease by raising money to expand healthy eating and physical activity programs in schools, out-of-school time, and healthcare settings.

For the 2012 ING New York City Marathon, Team Healthier Generation will be joining forces with the William J. Clinton Foundation to raise funds to support their efforts to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment

“It's an honor to be working with Alliance for a Healthier Generation, leading the team for a second year,” said Richard Blais. “I’m inspired by the organizations work and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.  I'm setting my goals and expectations even higher, hoping to far surpass fundraising efforts.” 

“I am both thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to help lead Team Healthier Generation in such an extraordinary event for such a remarkable cause,” said Jean Chatzky.  “My co-captain, Richard, has set the bar very high indeed, but I am excited to take the challenge and look forward to November.”

In addition to Blais, Team Healthier Generation members running the ING New York City Marathon to support the Alliance for a Healthier Generation include Scott Andersen, Wilmington, NC; Gary Laswell, Parkersburg, WV; Abby Manishor, Brooklyn, NY; Amy Neal, West Lawn, PA; David Sanchez, Racine, WI; Ashley Sandberg, New York, NY; Carol Skoglund, Cleveland Heights, OH; Angela Stark, Lexington, KY; Abbey Tootle, Austin, TX; and Henrique Vissotto, Chevy Chase, MD. Additional team members will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are thrilled Richard Blais and Jean Chatzky have agreed to co-captain Team Healthier Generation in the ING New York City Marathon,” said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “We are grateful to all of our Team Healthier Generation athletes, dedicating their time and sweat to fight childhood obesity. They along with those who sponsor them—will help us ensure future generations live long and healthy lives.”

Team Healthier Generation has a combined fundraising goal of more than $125,000 and anyone can help contribute online at www.HealthierGeneration.org.

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About Richard Blais

Richard Blais, winner of Bravo’s Top Chef “All-Stars,” has played an influential role in hospitality for the last 15 years. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Richard has trained at French Laundry, Daniel, Chez Panisse, and el Bulli. Blais currently owns and operates Trail Blais, a forward-thinking culinary company that has consulted on, designed, and operated some of Atlanta’s most popular eateries including multiple outposts of Flip Burger Boutique. He recently launched The Spence, a new restaurant concept in Midtown Atlanta, and his debut cookbook will be published by Clarkson Potter in February 2013. Blais has appeared on “TODAY Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Live with Kelly,” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” as well as in numerous publications including The New York Times, InStyle, and Food & Wine magazine. He will be starring in the new Bravo project "Life After Top Chef" slated to air later this year. Blais resides in Atlanta with his wife, Jazmin, and their two young daughters, Riley and Embry

About Jean Chatzky 

Jean Chatzky is award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and the financial editor for NBC’s Today Show.  Chatzky is also the host of Cash Call with Jean Chatzky on RLTV. She has been honored with multiple awards for her work to educate consumers about their money; providing important information and smart steps for getting out of debt, and was named one of the best magazine columnists in the country by the Chicago Tribune.  Chatzky provides up-to-date information and solutions in her daily blog at www.jeanchatzky.com.  For more great financial tips and insight, follow Jean on Twitter http://twitter.com/jeanchatzky and become a fan on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/JeanChatzky.

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation 

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities. To learn more about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, visit www. HealthierGeneration.org. 

About the William J. Clinton Foundation 

Building on a lifetime of public service, President Bill Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private citizens to turn good intentions into measurable results. Since 2001, President Clinton's vision and leadership have resulted in more than 4 million people benefiting from lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment; more than 14,000 U.S. schools building healthier learning environments; more than 26,000 micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and smallholder farmers improving their livelihoods and communities; and more than 2 million tons of greenhouse gases cut or abated in some of the world's largest cities. And President Clinton has redefined the way we think about giving and philanthropy through his Clinton Global Initiative, whose members have made more than 2,100 commitments that are improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries.