While the contributing factors to obesity may be the same -- too many calories and not enough physical activity -- the reasons that an activity and caloric balance occurs must be addressed locally, and not in a generic fashion.
Timeline
Within six months: Raise awareness about the organization. Contact local, state, and national leaders. Touch base with leaders who are sympathetic to the goals of the organization. Disseminating the message of obesity reduction through public service messages as well as replicating existing programs and advocacy messages will be part of the organization's efforts to make connections with sympathetic leaders.
Within a year: Research and target critical programs and initiatives that will become the focus of fundraising of the organization.
Ongoing, but within a year to six months to generate support for the first bill: Create a list of legal initiatives for the organization to support, such as limiting the miles a fast food restaurant can be built near a school.
Seeking donations from prominent public donors sympathetically affiliated with its cause will have a dual purpose of raising awareness of the organization's profile as well as raising funds.
References
Edible schoolyard. (2010). Official website. Retrieved October 27, 2010 at http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/
Fast food near schools means fatter kids. (2009, January 10). Reuters. Retrieved October 27,
2010 at http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5013LU20090102
Hellmich, Nina. (2010, January 20). Michelle Obama to launch initiative fighting childhood obesity. USA Today. Retrieved October 27, 2010 at http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-01-20-michelle-obama-obesity_N.htm
