The leaves are changing, pumpkins are carved and people all over the country are making plans for Thanksgiving. The holidays are a great time to reflect on our blessings – family, friends and the opportunity around us. We are associate members of Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, an organization dedicated to the fight against childhood obesity. Its goal is to reach families and schools, through its Together Counts program, to share an easy-to-understand message of “energy balance,” all in the hope that each child will understand what it takes to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. In the spirit of giving back, HWCF has formed a partnership with HOSA-Future Health Professionals. Teenagers are able engage their community by reaching out to local schools on behalf of HWCF. These high school students earn service time by encouraging schools to enter HWCF’s second annual Find Your Balance Challenge, where elementary school teams identify ways to make simple, healthy changes in their schools. Teams all over the United States are working together with their school’s stakeholders to write an action plan and take steps to improve energy balance, and HOSA students are serving as valuable mentors. It is this kind of community engagement that will truly make a difference in the lives of students. Fighting obesity is a group effort. Success will be the result of people from all communities and experiences working together, and we are grateful to be a part of that work with HWCF. In the spirit of the season, check out all of the ways HWCF is rewarding schools for healthy change. The Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes and the Find Your Balance Challenge are open through January 31.Give back to a school in your community by encouraging parents and teachers to enter.