UnitedHealth Group is giving North Carolina children the opportunity to become "health care heroes" by learning about childhood obesity, designing programs to address it and implementing the programs in their communities. UnitedHealth HEROES is a service-learning, health literacy initiative designed to encourage young people, working through educators and youth leaders, to create and implement local hands-on programs to address the issue of childhood obesity. Two UnitedHealth Group companies, UnitedHealthcare and AmeriChoice, are launching the program in North Carolina and 14 other states. Schools and youth-focused, community center-based programs are eligible for UnitedHealth HEROES grants of $500 or $1,000. Grants will be awarded to programs that demonstrate a clear understanding of the health risks associated with pediatric obesity; propose creative solutions to combating obesity in their schools and communities; and can be easily implemented, scaled and measured. Funding for the HEROES program in North Carolina is through UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, which serves more than 850,000 customers across the state. To obtain an application, visit www.ysa.org/awards and click on the "Grants and Awards" tab; then click on "UnitedHealth HEROES." The Web site also contains more information about the program and resources for gathering information on the risk factors associated with pediatric obesity. Applications must be submitted online before midnight Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. Grant recipients will be notified in February 2009. UnitedHealth Group is partnering with Youth Service America (YSA) to launch the UnitedHealth HEROES program. Data by Denver-based RMC Research Corp. has shown that young people who participate in service-learning programs improve their academic performance and critical-thinking skills, increase their confidence and sense of potential, and accept leadership roles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30 percent of young people are obese and more than 60 percent have at least one avoidable risk for heart disease.