NCAAHPERD is an alliance of six associations:

Athletic Education serves middle school and high school coaches and other professionals who promote positive athletic and sport experiences.

Health Education serves health educators and other professionals who promote healthy lifestyles. The health section of NCAAHPERD encourages, supports and assists health professionals concerned with health promotion through education and other systematic strategies.

The Physical Education element within NCAAHPERD seeks to enhance knowledge and professional practice in sport and physical activity through scientific study and dissemination of research-based and experiential knowledge to members and the public. Adapted Physical Educators advocated for the under-represented populations and interests.

NCAAHPERD's North Carolina Sports Management Association (NCSMA) branch serves sport and recreation professionals — managers, practitioners, educators and students — who advance the profession and enhance the quality of life of all North Carolinians through creative and meaningful sport, leisure, and recreation experiences.

The Dance section of NCAAHPERD seeks to increase knowledge, improve skills, and encourage sound professional practices in dance and rhythm education from pre-K to college level students and assists in developing lifelong values for the appreciation of dance performance.

NCAAHPERD's MISSION: To provide advocacy, professional development, and unity for health, physical education, recreation, dance, and athletics professionals and students in order to enhance and promote the health of North Carolinians.

NCAAHPERD's VISION: Our vision is to be the leading organization promoting and supporting a healthier, more creative, and active North Carolina.

NCAAHPERD's Partnerships:
The North Carolina Alliance partners with other organizations that have common goals and interests advance research and education within the fields of Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

About AAHPERD
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) is the largest organization of professionals supporting and assisting those involved in physical education, leisure, fitness, dance, health promotion, and education and all specialties related to achieving a healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD is an alliance of five national non-profit associations, six district associations, and a research consortium. The allied national associations include the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR); American Association for Health Education (AAHE); National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS); National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE); and the National Dance Association (NDA). The Alliance serves 26,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC.

The purpose of AAHPERD is to improve the health and fitness of Americans by enhancing educational programs in a variety of community settings. AAHPERD brings together educators, administrators, researchers, students and others with career interests in its specialized fields.

For more information, contact:

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. More than 4.2 million people volunteer with the AHA each year to fight cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The AHA has contributed more than $1.3 billion to cardiovascular research since 1949. Another priority is public education programs to inform people how to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. These programs include classroom materials and other school programs, including: