Students Raise $1.4 Million in Kids Heart Challenge

Recently retired RBUSD Superintendent Steven Keller’s legacy of kid heart health philanthropy

Written by Laura Roe Stevens | Photographed by Vincent Rios

Inspired to give back and boost kid-heart health awareness, a local superintendent created a legacy of student philanthropy and health awareness. It all began in 2007, when Dr. Steven Keller, Redondo Beach Unified School District superintendent, partnered with the American Heart Association for its Kids Heart Challenge, formerly called Jump Rope for Heart. The goal of this program, open to all Redondo Beach students, is to inspire kids to become more physically fit and to make better nutritional choices—while also raising funds for cardiovascular disease research.

To date, $1.4 million has been raised by Redondo Beach students—that’s more than any other school district in California. Dr. Keller says the program also helps “instill a sense of philanthropy in students. It’s important to give back and help others. It’s never too soon to start to do this. And don’t even get me started about nutrition. The earlier kids become aware of healthier choices, the better it will be for their hearts and longevity.”

In play at all Redondo Beach schools, the program’s focus is on fundraising through physical activity, such as jumping rope. Students are also required to attend educational programs about heart health and nutrition.

A Heartbeat Away

When presented with the opportunity in 2007, Dr. Keller says he didn’t hesitate. He knew from experience how critical heart health awareness can be.

“On a personal note, I’m passionate about heart health awareness as I lost both my parents to heart disease. It’s important to advocate for better choices—in nutrition and exercise—to avoid heart disease and stroke,” explains Dr. Keller. In his own life, he aims to exercise daily and opts for more fruits and veggies and low-sugar snacks.

Poor heart health is linked with higher obesity and diabetes rates, and in America childhood diabetes is on the rise. According to American Diabetes Association’s current statistics, 35% of American children under the age of 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2). Diabetes was listed as the seventh cause of death in America in 2019 too.

Not one to stand by on the sidelines, Dr. Keller took part in the Kids Heart Challenge activities yearly.

Why is this important? Diabetes is directly linked to heart disease. And Type 2 diabetes can be avoided, as it is created by a diet filled with excess sugar. This type of food intake taxes the body’s ability to create insulin, which converts sugar into usable energy.

Additionally, increasing levels of heart disease make the Kids Heart Challenge program even more important today. In fact, 2022 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) place heart disease as the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. “One person dies every 34 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease,” the latest CDC report found.

“When we help children embrace exercise and healthier nutritional choices, we are creating future adults who will be less at risk. And we are likely educating their parents as well. We’re all busy. It’s easy to pick up pizza or fast food for dinner. But many kids are eating candy during the day and drinking soda too. It adds up,” Dr. Keller noted.

He hopes future generations will continue to take note of how powerful our healthy choices are. •

Dr. Steven Keller is widely credited with making the Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD) what it is today during his 16-year tenure as the school district’s superintendent. He attended Walteria Elementary, Newton/Richardson Middle School and South High in Torrance. Dr. Keller began his journey in education as a 22-year-old teacher in Rancho Cucamonga in 1986. His career included stops in Fullerton, Baldwin Park and Laguna Beach, where he rose as an assistant superintendent before taking the helm at RBUSD. This community has always been home to him, and it still is today. After 36+ years in public education, he retired at the end of December and plans to “dabble” with a few part-time jobs, such as consulting companies and coaching seniorlevel administrators for districts. While he’s excited to spend more time with his family, Dr. Keller admits, “I’m going to miss this job and the people I work with.” They are clearly going to miss him too. His words of advice to them (and us): “Work doubly hard to find time to exercise, eat well and find calm in the middle of the day.”