“National Gymnastics Day has become a wonderful way to build awareness of gymnastics and its many benefits, as well as to raise money for a worthy cause, the Children’s Miracle Network,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Physical fitness is an important part of everyone’s life, and the Tyson Fitness Challenge allows children involved in gymnastics to help other kids.”

Established in 1999, National Gymnastics Day is a platform to showcase the many benefits of gymnastics, as well as promote the ideals of physical fitness and community service nationwide. Since partnering in 2001, USA Gymnastics and its gym clubs across the country have raised more than $645,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network through a variety of activities. In February, USA Gymnastics announced its goal to raise that total to $1 million by 2008.

Geared toward youngsters, ages 4-16, the Tyson Fitness Challenge is not about teaching gymnastics skills, but using gymnastics to help kids become more physically fit, as well as learn about a well-balanced diet. The culmination of the Tyson Fitness Challenge is voluntary participation in raising funds for the Children’s Miracle Network. Participants and clubs obtain pledges for achieving a set number of elements in a specified time, whether it is fitness-related skills, cartwheels, flips, etc.

The club that raises the most money for Children’s Miracle Network will receive the grand prize of a vault table, valued at $3,332, in addition to Tyson coupons and a one-year USA Gymnastics club membership. The top-three individuals who raise the most money for Children’s Miracle Network will receive a trip for two to the 2008 Tyson American Cup, competition and pre-event VIP hospitality passes and a one-night stay in the USA Gymnastics host hotel. In 2006, Massachusetts Gymnastics Center in Boston raised $18,305, the most by any club, and was featured on the 2007 National Gymnastics Day poster along with Andrew Wise, from Sonshine Gymnastics Academy in Conway, Ark., who raised $2,578, the most money by an individual.

Clubs have planned a number of activities, some of which are listed below. To see what gymnastics clubs in your area are doing for the Tyson Fitness Challenge and National Gymnastics Day, visit www.usa-gymnastics.org/tysonfitnesschallenge.

• USA Gymnastics will host an event at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Ind., with Tyson Fitness Challenge demonstrations by local gym clubs and a presentation by the Indiana Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports. Similar programs will take place in Boston, Houston and Jacksonville, Fla.

• Elite Gymnastics Academy of San Diego (Calif.) is hosting a Tyson Fitness Challenge Rock N' Roll-athon for gymnasts to show off their skills, followed by a night out for the parents while the kids have four hours of games, free time in the gym, movies and pizza.
• Novato (Calif.) Gymnastics Center will host the “N Games” for its Tyson Fitness Challenge students, who will also be featured in its annual summer show on National Gymnastics Day.

• Dynamite Academy of Gymnastics in Waterbury, Conn., will host an open house with inflatables, trampoline fun and food, and the mayor will present medals to fundraisers and declare Saturday National Gymnastics Day in Waterbury.

• World of Gymnastics in Cartersville, Ga., will hold performances and host a party with inflatables, games, prizes and obstacle courses. World of Gymnastics also will have lunch available, and host a triathlon and a Tyson Fitness Challenge.

• 1st Class Gymnastics in Annapolis, Md., will have an open gym that includes a moon bounce, face painting, a coloring contest, team skills demonstrations, a bake sale and a silent auction benefiting Children’s Miracle Network.

• Olympiad Gymnastics in Chesterfield, Mo., will host an event on National Gymnastics Day with raffles, a silent auction, carnival games and its Tyson Fitness Challenge contests, including hula hoop, handstand and pull-up contests.

• Jennifer Sasso's School of Dance & Gymnastics in Las Vegas will host an in-house meet for its Tyson Fitness Challenge students, who will compete in Olympic events and other events (rope climb, pit relays, etc.) and receive awards.

• Mpact Martial Arts & Gymnastics in Brentwood, Tenn., will conclude its Tyson Fitness Challenge fundraising for the Children's Miracle Network with its annual Cartwheels & Kicks -4- Kids on National Gymnastics Day. It is a carnival-type event with appearances by Tennessee Titans celebrities and catering by area restaurants.

• Houston Gymnastics Academy will host an open gym with a Tyson Fitness Challenge cartwheel-a-thon, team demonstrations, raffles and autograph sessions with current U.S. national team members Raj Bhavsar, Sean Golden and Sean Townsend.

Children's Miracle Network—the alliance of premier hospitals for children—is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. For more information on Children’s Miracle Network visit www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.

Tyson Foods, Inc. [NYSE: TSN], founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the “Powered by Tyson®” strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.