Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is hosting the 7:30 a.m. breakfast at the Radisson Plaza Hotel for nearly 200 business, education and community leaders. The breakfast is a kickoff event to the United States Tennis Association?s National Junior Championships at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University. Registration for the championships is Thursday, Aug. 3 and play begins on Friday, Aug. 4.

?After more than 60 years the junior tennis championships have become an icon in Kalamazoo, a symbol of healthy life styles ? exercise, staying fit and eating right,? said Sophia Quinn, Kalamazoo sales manager for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a marquee sponsor of this year?s National Junior Championships.

?By sponsoring a kickoff breakfast for community leaders, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is broadening this symbol of healthy living beyond the tennis courts and into the community-at-large through a nationally recognized health and nutrition expert in Jane Brody,? Quinn added.

Brody promotes the healthy benefits of exercise in her writing ? including its use to control weight gain and depression. Exercise ?revs up the idling speed of the body so the body continues to burn extra calories for up to 15 hours after you stop exercising,? Brody said.

She also observes that exercise is a ?significant weapon? against depression because it establishes a daily routine that brings a greater sense of organization and accomplishment.

Timon Corwin, tournament director of the National Junior Championships, is awarding Brody the title of Honorary Referee of the National Junior Championships.

?We are delighted to have someone of Jane Brody?s stature coming to Kalamazoo to help us kick off our tournament,? Corwin said.

Brody?s books include best sellers Jane Brody?s Nutrition Book and Jane Brody?s Good Food Book. Her other books include Jane Brody?s Good Food Gourmet, Jane Brody?s Good Seafood Book, Jane Brody?s Cold and Flu Fighter, Jane Brody?s Allergy Fighter and The New York Times Book of Health.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit corporation, provides or administers health care benefits to just over 4.7 million members through a variety of plans: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community Blue and Healthy Blue PPOs; Blue Choice Point of Service; Blue Care Network HMO, and Flexible Blue plans compatible with health savings accounts. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit www.bcbsm.com.

Source: Colette Lewis (Tournament Office)