New Student Fitness Center Opens At VHS 

   A ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, February 8, at Venice High School marked the completion and signaled the opening of the new $70,000 Sound Body Sound Mind fitness facility. 
   Funded by the Simon Foundation, the facility, which was nine months in the making, was a joint collaboration of the Cynthia L. and William E. Simon, Jr. foundation, Venice High School and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
   The full-size fitness facility contains state-of-the-art-workout equipment including treadmills, recumbent cycles, a Stairmaster and complete line of Cybex and Paramount strength machines. 
   All students who participate in the program are eligible for a senior scholarship award and recognition awards for underclassmen.
   Simon Foundation Chair William E. Simon, Jr. spoke to the assembled students about the inspiration behind Sound Body Sound Mind, "My wife Cindy and I came up with the idea of recognizing kids who try hard to be physically fit as well as trying hard in the classroom. This program is directed at the kid who is not necessarily the star athlete or the star student, but does his best in a balanced way."
   Joining Venice High students, principal Jan Davies and the Simons at the ribbon-cutting were Mathew Ware, CIF Division 1 Football Player of the Year 2001 and UCLA Bruin recruit; trainer Donna Fol, and several senior LAUSD officials. 
   The Venice High center is the third location to open since the establishment of the Sound Body Sound Mind program in 1999. The two other high school sites are Palisades High School and Saint Monica Catholic High School.
   It is anticipated that Sound Body Sound Mind programs will be funded at six additional LAUSD schools this year. 
   The Simon Foundation plans to contribute a total of $1 million in matching funds to high schools that comply with the program grant requirements. 
   Venice High principal Davies believes the new facility will not only improve student academic performance but will give children a safe healthy place to go after school. The Venice facility will be open several days a week after school.
   The Sound Body Sound Mind program is "a comprehensive physical fitness program established to promote self-confidence and healthy lifestyle choices among high school students by rewarding those who utilize the school’s fitness programs regularly and maintain a high level of scholastic achievement." 
   For grant requirements and application information, interested parties should contact Richard Mytton-Mills at the Simon Foundation at (310) 996-8765.