Healthy LifeStars

What Healthy LifeStars does

Healthy LifeStars is a U.S. nonprofit organization, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, founded in 2003 to combat childhood obesity. Its flagship offering, the LifeStar Challenge™ Program, is an evidence-based curriculum built on three habit pillars—I Am Active, I Eat Right, I Can Do It—combined with goal-setting and personal responsibility frameworks delivered via a star/lanyard reward system. The core technology stack consists of an online curriculum platform and digital resource library that hosts two complementary online programs: HealthyLifeStarsAtHome™ for families and HealthyLifeStars4Groups™ for schools and youth-serving organizations, both gated by signed program agreements.

Name

Healthy LifeStars

Legal name

Healthy LifeStars

Website

https://healthylifestars.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Healthy LifeStars is a U.S. nonprofit that delivers an evidence-based childhood obesity prevention curriculum (the LifeStar Challenge™) through K-12 schools and youth-serving organizations across 10 states, supplemented by free online programs for families and groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Weight Management & Behavior Change Education (EDAAAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness Education (EDALAFAF), Chronic Condition Lifestyle Coaching (Non-Clinical) (HSADAGAH)

Keywords

• Childhood obesity prevention
• Youth health education
• School wellness curriculum
• Healthy lifestyle programs
• Nonprofit community health

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Contributions: Healthy LifeStars is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals to fund its programs. Donations support the delivery of the LifeStar Challenge program at no cost to kids, families, and program partners.
2. Event Fundraising (StepAThon): Annual StepAThon events engage participants in physical activity challenges while raising funds. Participants solicit pledges and donations based on steps taken during the week-long event.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Grants: Corporate sponsors (Aetna, Amerigroup, Genesis, IHS Markit, Huntington, Quantum Health, Skechers, and others) and foundation grants (Thunderbirds Charities $20,000 grant) provide funding. Sponsors also participate in charity events such as the Ohio Golf Charity Event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Healthy LifeStars develops and delivers the evidence-based LifeStar Challenge program—an obesity-prevention curriculum built on three healthy habits ('I Am Active,' 'I Eat Right,' 'I Can Do It') that combines goal-setting, personal responsibility, and a star/lanyard reward system. The program is delivered free of charge through partner schools, after-school programs, faith-based organizations, and youth-serving organizations, and is also accessible to families via the HealthyLifeStarsAtHome and HealthyLifeStars4Groups online resource platforms.

Product overview

Healthy LifeStars offers a suite of programs focused on childhood obesity prevention and healthy habit formation for kids and families. The core offering is The LifeStar Challenge™ Program, an evidence-based curriculum delivered through schools and youth organizations. The portfolio includes two online delivery programs—HealthyLifeStarsAtHome™ for families and HealthyLifeStars4Groups™ for organizations—as well as fundraising initiatives like StepAThon™ and StepUp4Kids™. The Together Counts program provides free resources for broader community use. All programs are built around three core healthy habits: I Eat Right, I Am Active, and I Can Do It.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The LifeStar Challenge™ Program An evidence-based childhood obesity prevention program for schools and youth-serving organizations that combines goal-setting and personal responsibility with three core healthy habits (I Am Active, I Eat Right, I Can Do It) and a star/lanyard reward system. Delivered free of charge through K-12 schools (PE, Health, STEM, Science, before/after-school), after-school programs, faith-based organizations, and camps. Minimum 12 sessions recommended and customizable to each organization.
• HealthyLifeStarsAtHome™ Online direct-to-family program providing worksheets for kids, guides for parents/caretakers, short video challenges for the entire family, healthy recipes, and creative ideas for physical activities. Free resource library for families to build healthy habits at home.
• HealthyLifeStars4Groups™ Online group program providing virtual lessons plus all HealthyLifeStarsAtHome materials for schools, after-school programs, home schooling, faith-based organizations, recreational centers, and other youth-serving organizations. Requires a signed program agreement with Healthy LifeStars.
• Together Counts A nationwide program providing free resources for parents, schools, and communities to achieve healthy weight through nutrition and physical activity. Originally started by The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and now offered by Healthy LifeStars.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 75,000 kids served cumulatively since 2003
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Ohio Hispanic CoalitionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021One of Healthy LifeStars of Ohio's original and most valued partnerships. OHC serves the Hispanic/Latino community in Central Ohio with childcare, interpretation, and crisis intervention services, integrating the LifeStar Challenge program at three sites (East, North, West).
• University of Iowa / Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018In July 2018, Healthy LifeStars partnered with the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy at the University of Iowa College of Public Health to implement the LifeStar Challenge program in Iowa, operating in before, during, and after-school settings. University of Iowa student coaches deliver the program at partner sites.
• Central Cares After SchoolmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018A before-and-after school childcare program in Coralville, IA that has partnered with Healthy LifeStars since 2018. Won the 2025 StepAThon with children averaging over 40,000 steps each.
• The Ohio State University / Office of the Chief Wellness OfficercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017In February 2017, Healthy LifeStars partnered with The Office of the Chief Wellness Officer at Ohio State University to launch the program in Ohio. Faculty, staff, and students from the College of Nursing and other colleges help implement programs in Central Ohio.
• Denver Parks and RecreationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Denver Parks and Recreation is a key community partner for the Colorado program, helping deliver the LifeStar Challenge to children through recreational facilities across the Denver metro area.
• Scholars UnlimitedmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Formerly SummerScholars, this Colorado community partner works with Healthy LifeStars to provide summer and after-school programming focused on healthy living.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro DenvermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010A key Colorado partner delivering the LifeStar Challenge program to youth through multiple branches (Barker Branch, McKee Branch) across the Denver metro area.
• YMCA of Metropolitan DenvermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Multiple YMCA branches in the Denver area (Briargate, Downtown, Fountain Valley, Garden Ranch, Southeast, Tri Lakes) serve as program partners delivering the LifeStar Challenge to children.
• Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Healthy LifeStars established a 6-year partnership plan with The Salvation Army, with plans for national deployment. Jerre Stead was instrumental in defining and funding the partnership.
• Ohio State University College of NursingmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Faculty, staff, and students from the OSU College of Nursing implement programs in the Central Ohio area, providing both delivery capacity and academic rigor to the program.
• Leading Healthcare OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Healthy LifeStars partnered with leading healthcare organizations to develop, evaluate, and refine the evidence-based LifeStar Challenge program to help kids and families prevent obesity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation: National nonprofit that delivers evidence-based childhood obesity prevention programs through schools and youth-serving organizations, directly overlapping with Healthy LifeStars' mission, K-12 delivery model, and corporate/foundation funding base.
• Action for Healthy Kids: Nonprofit providing school-based programs, resources, and grants to address childhood obesity and promote nutrition and physical activity; competes with Healthy LifeStars for the same school-district channel and corporate sponsors.
• CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health): Evidence-based K-8 health, nutrition, and physical activity curriculum widely adopted in US schools; competes head-to-head with the LifeStar Challenge for school-district adoption and federal/state wellness funding.
• Gen YOUth / Fuel Up to Play 60: School wellness nonprofit founded by the NFL and National Dairy Council that funds nutrition and physical activity programs in K-12 schools, competing for the same school wellness budget and corporate sponsors as Healthy LifeStars.

Broad incumbents

• Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation: Industry coalition that originated the Together Counts program now operated by Healthy LifeStars; a broader, multi-stakeholder incumbent in the childhood obesity prevention category.
• American Heart Association: Large national health nonprofit that runs school- and youth-focused nutrition and physical activity initiatives as part of a broader cardiovascular mission; competes with Healthy LifeStars for healthcare-corporate sponsorship dollars.
• Nemours Children's Health (KidsHealth.org): Pediatric health system operating KidsHealth.org, a widely used family-facing health education platform covering nutrition, fitness, and behavior change for children; an adjacent incumbent in youth health education content.

Others

• SHAPE America: National professional organization that sets standards and provides curricula for school health and physical education; influences the same K-12 procurement decisions that drive adoption of Healthy LifeStars' curriculum.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-serving organization that operates after-school programming where Healthy LifeStars is delivered (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver); acts as a channel partner and potential competitor for after-school wellness curricula.
• YMCA of the USA: National youth and community wellness operator that delivers its own healthy living programs for kids and is simultaneously a Healthy LifeStars channel partner (e.g., YMCA of Metropolitan Denver).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HealthyLifestar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LifeStarChallenge
• Facebookfacebook.com/healthy.lifestar
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthy_lifestars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Healthy LifeStars