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Fan Male: Klub Kid
Allen Rossum, Atlanta Falcons, Founder Of Healthy Kids Klub
by Vanessa Burke
September 29, 2008
I
t's not every day that a high school athlete has his choice of sports careers. But
All-Pro punt returner Allen Rossum, Atlanta Falcons' Cornerback, experienced that day. Although he
excelled in baseball, football and track, says Rossum, "I had to make a decision. Coaches pushed me
and family supported me [in football]," so football it was.
Rossum's initial goals in life were simple: "I knew I wanted to be able to give back to my
community, to help out family, and also hopefully to live a certain lifestyle." With a double major
in Business Administration and Computer Science, Rossum could have worked a 'normal' job and lived
well, but shortly after graduating, he was "blessed enough to be drafted by Philadelphia."
Rossum eventually wound up with the Atlanta Falcons as an unrestricted free agent in March
2002. And so, with family support and lifestyle goals met, he turned his focus on giving back to
the community.
"I wanted to do something dealing with kids. I wanted a hands-on approach [and] more than
just once a year," Rossum says. "I have people in my family that are expected to die from obesity
... [and] hypertension and diabetes run rampant in my family." Rossum researched obesity and
realized it begins with childhood. It's estimated nationally that approximately 30 percent of
children and adolescents ages 6-19 are overweight. "If we can teach kids how to eat now, once
they become adults, they can live [healthy lives]," he says.
He and his wife, Angela, are parents of 5-year-old twins, Alexa and Avian, and Trinity, age
2, so Rossum has first-hand experience with the challenge of ensuring a healthy diet for children.
Thus, the Healthy Kids Klub was born, with a mission to help prevent childhood obesity by providing
healthy activities, promoting a nutritious diet and encouraging abstinence from unhealthy
substances.
Eight times annually, Rossum exercises his hands-on approach to helping children stay
healthy through the Kids Klub's "Mobile Fitness 4 Kids" program, held at churches, YMCAs and
hospitals. "I invite my teammates and other celebrities out," says Rossum, so the children can get
a perspective from different walks of life. The program includes a variety of outdoor activities
and Rossum plans to franchise Mobile Fitness so children around the nation can learn to live
healthier lives.
Most of the Mobile Fitness clinics are held in inner city areas, where, Rossum says, "kids
really don't have a place to play and feel safe. Most [of their] playgrounds are drug infested, so
we call in Mobile Fitness," he says.
In addition to his Mobile Fitness clinics, Rossum is a mentor at Atlanta's residential
treatment center, The Bridge, for adolescents who have suffered abuse and neglect.
When he's not losing a sack race to kids or breaking kickoff return yards records with the
Falcons, Rossum likes to spend time with his family, shoot pool and play video games.
