Len Saunders graduated from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, majoring in Physical Education. He later went on to receive a Master's degree in Exercise Physiology from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Len is an award winning author, motivational speaker in the fight against childhood obesity, and nationally recognized for his innovative wellness events.

 

Len Saunders has been distinguished as a leader in the field of children's health, fitness, and wellness for almost 30 years. He has won awards at the local, state, and national levels for all his efforts to reduce childhood obesity. He has been a guest speaker at universities, as well as state and national conventions. In the late 1980's, Len served as a consultant to President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Most recently, he became an American Heart Association expert spokesperson on the issue of childhood obesity.

 

Len's contribution to children's health has literally reached millions of children and their parents worldwide. He has contributed articles to fitness magazines, publishing companies, educational magazines, and major internet blogs. He has also written and consulted with Sports Illustrated For Kids magazine. Some of Len's articles have been used for nationally syndicated television shows on ABC-TV. Len is frequently sought after for quotes from television and print media outlets. Sports Illustrated has called Len "high spirited", while a quote from Ladies Home Journal says, "No one is more committed to building stronger kids than Lenny Saunders."

 

Len is best known for creating Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously), an internationally recognized program that literally has millions of children from all 50 states and over 50 countries exercise in unison during the first Wednesday in May.  He has created dozens more nationally recognized programs that teach children about leading a healthy lifestyle. Len is also an accomplished author of five books, with his most recent, 'Keeping Kids Fit' released in 2010.

 

Len's philosophy to a child's positive well-being is straightforward. You can inspire a child to achieve proper health by keeping things simple, fun, unique, entertaining, and educational. It is also important to make sure a child can sustain a high degree of success with their objectives. Since most children have different needs, they must be motivated in diverse ways to get a positive response. Keeping goals at a child's specific level will provide rewarding outcomes. This philosophy has been applied to Len's comprehensive national programs, which have successfully directed millions of children to lead healthier lifestyles.

 

For more specifics on Len's work, keep reading below!

 

 

Some highlights from Len's career.....

 

Invited to the White House - Had the honor of shaking hands with former President, George Bush, and former first lady, Barbara Bush.

Served as a fitness consultant to Sports Illustrated for Kids.

Served as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

Served as a consultant to The President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports (PCPFS) under the Reagan/Bush Administration.

Honored before a game at Madison Square Garden.

Invited by Arnold Schwarzenegger to participate in a Youth Fitness Summit.

Winning an Achievement Award from The President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports.

Voted The Outstanding Teacher of Physical Education from his home state of New Jersey.

Honored before an illustrious audience at the world famous Waldof-Astoria in New York City.

Honored and awarded for participating in the historic youth fitness exchange between the former Soviet Union, and the United States.

 

 

Spring 2011 - Len appeared on the infamous Joan Hamburg Show and on the CMBC national evening news. He also made appearances in Parents magazine, Fitness magazine, CNBC.com, MSN.com, Curves magazine, Family Circle magazine, The Weekly Reader, Parenting magazine, Yahoo.com, Nickelodeon, and Lifescript magazine.

March 2011 - Len appeared on the Footnotes TV show, as well as being mentioned in Canadian Parents and quoted in the Panera Bread magazine. Len also appeared in the March edition of Reader's Digest.

January 2011 - Len appeared in Oxygen Magazine, Smart Money Magazine, MSNBC, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and the Today Show.

November 2010 - Len's Spunky and Joey picture books received the prestigious and coveted PTPA (Parent Tested, Parent Approved) award.

November 2010 - Len taped a 30-minute segment for the "Footnotes" TV show discussing childhood obesity.

October 2010 - Len spoke at an ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) conference in NYC.

Fall 2010 - Len appeared in Parent's Magazine, ESPN, CNBC, Weight Watchers Magazine, Family Circle Magazine, Disney Family Fun Magazine, Time Magazine for Kids, About.com, Yahoo News, The Huffington Post, and USA Today.

September 2010 - Len's book, 'Keeping Kids Fit' goes into second printing.

May 2010 - Len was selected as the Montville Township Citizen Of The Year.

May 2010 - Len will appear on FOX's Good Day New York program.

May 2010 - Len or his programs appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX affiliates throughout the United States.

May 2010 - Len appeared on ABC's Good Morning America program.

May 2010 - Len's new book, 'Keeping Kids Fit' is released.

April 2010 - Conducted an interview with Time Magazine For Kids appearing in a May 3rd story.

April 2010 - Conducted an interview with Radio Disney for a May 2nd show.

February 2010 - Len signs with the Sullivan Maxx Literary Agency to represent his children's books.

February 2010 - Len's book, Spunky the Monkey is released.

January 2010 - Len's book, Joey the Kangaroo is released.

November 2009 - Received quotes for upcoming book from respected individuals such as Michael Phelps, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Hawk, and Vince Carter.

October 2009 - Appeared in various publications such as US News & World Report Magazine, Weight Watchers Magazine, New York Newsday, Yahoo News, The Chicago Sun Times, and The Dallas Morning News.

October 2009 - Successfully launched the first annual Exercise US program.

July 2009 - Signed with LaChance Publishing, New York, to write a 'Keeping Kids Fit' book.

May 2009 - Appeared in the Associated Press, Time, Yahoo, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, USA Today, and Nickelodeon.

May 2009 - Appeared on the What's At Risk Show.

May 2009 - Appeared on the Jack Roberts Show.

May 2009 - Appeared on the Kathryn Zox Show.

May 2009 - Appeared on the David Lile Show.

May 2009 - Appeared nationally in an Associated Press article about childhood obesity.

May 2009 - Teamed with Deos Animation to animate Len's Spunky and Joey books.

May 2009 - Launches new Exercise US (United States) program.

May 2009 - Appeared in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Reuters.

March 2009 - American Heart Association names Len a 'Health Champion.'

March 2009 - Appeared in various publications such as USA Today, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, NBC, and Yahoo! News.

March 2009 - Received public service award from Montville Township.

February 2009 - Worked with Wonder World TV on The World's Healthiest Children Contest.

December 2008 - Len signs with the well respected Dystel & Goderich Literary Agency, NYC. They will represent his health and fitness books.

May 2008 - Len or his programs appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX throughout the United States.

April 2008 - Guest on The Good News Health Show with Bill Swail discussing childhood obesity.

April 2008 - Guest on The Public Affairs Show with Tracey Morgan discussing childhood obesity.

April 2008 - Guest on The Morning Show with Paul Miller discussing childhood obesity.

April 2008 - Guest on The John McMullen Show discussing childhood obesity.

April 2008 - Guest on This Is The Day Show with Nancy Turner discussing childhood obesity.

April 2008 - Guest on The Jack Roberts Show discussing childhood obesity.

April 2008 - Guest on NBC News discussing PACES Day.

March 2008- Guest on The Peter Solomon Show discussing childhood obesity.

September 2007 - Guest on CNN discussing childhood obesity.

September 2007 - Became a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

May 2007 - Guest speaker at Rutgers University.

May 2007 - Received national attention on ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX for the 19th anniversary of Project ACES.

May 2007 - Became a member of the Get Moving-Get Healthy New Jersey Advisory Coalition.

February 2007 - Launching a national fitness campaign called PACES Day, which will get parents and children to exercise together over the weekend.

November 2006 - Presenter at the NYS AHPERD convention in Rye, New York.

June 2006 - Len received an Outstanding Teacher Award from his local school district.

May 2006 - Len appeared in various news resources including The New York Times, CBS National News, ABC National News, CNN, The Washington Post, Yahoo News, The Associated Press, Newsday, Forbes, and USA Today.

April 2006 - Len launches childrensfitness.info. An online children's health and fitness web site.

January 2006 - Len teams up with Sportime to work on Project ACES.

September 2005 - Len was contracted to write for Sports Illustrated For Kids magazine.

June 2005 - Len was hired by Campbell's Soup as a children's fitness consultant. The company will be launching a new wellness web site in September 2005.

May 2005 - Len and his programs appeared on local and national TV affiliates to CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, NJN, and CN8.

April 2005 - Appeared as a guest on the Rick Wolff show.

March 2005 - Presenter at the NJAHPERD convention in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

March 2005 - Len's book reviewed in the National Education Association magazine.

February 2005 - Published children's fitness story for the NJEA magazine.

December 2004 - Appeared in a Time / Life children's fitness story.

April 2004 - Appeared on radio stations across the country talking about children's fitness.

March 2004 - Len's book, The Project ACES Handbook is released.

February 2004 - Presenter at the NJAHPERD convention in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

January 2004 - Received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the state of New Jersey.

October 2003 - Spoke in front of New Jersey Physical Fitness & Sports Council.

May 2003 - Appeared on Nickelodeon and CNN.

September 2002 - Developed a fitness program for Bosco Chocolate Syrup called, "The Family Fitness Fun Program."

June 2002 - Signed a book contract with The Great Activities Publishing Company.

March 2001 - Developed a fitness program for Nestle called, "The Nestle Nesquik Fit Kids Challenge."

March 2001 - Served as a consultant for a fitness video starring the Teletubbies. Created a national fitness event to launch the video.

March 2001 - Presented at the National AAHPERD convention in Cincinnati.