Action for Healthy Kids® and Walmart Launch Universal Breakfast for Healthy Kids Campaign
CHICAGO – September 25, 2013 – Action for Healthy Kids® (AFHK) announced today it is launching the Universal Breakfast for Healthy Kids campaign, funded by Walmart Foundation, with 100 pilot schools in 20 states. The goal is to provide the schools with support and hands-on help to improve their nutritional environments and funding for additional breakfasts so that 30,000 hungry students can begin each school day with a nutritious meal.
The campaign is part of AFHK’S School Grants for Healthy Kids program, which brings a total nutrition approach to schools to bolster their breakfast programs or get them off the ground. Through it, AFHK provides not only the funding schools need to start or expand school breakfast programs, but also the programmatic resources that help school officials put universal breakfast programs in place. The organization also gives the schools technical assistance and volunteer support to make sure their breakfast programs are effective. This year, AFHK will award $5,000 grants to the selected under-resourced schools, where 60% or more of the students qualify for free and/or reduced lunch, and will help administrators put universal school breakfast programs in place by providing school breakfast tools and resources. AFHK also will help the schools adopt its signature school health programs, such as Game On! The Ultimate Wellness Challenge, to ensure long-term improvements in school nutrition.
“Too many kids in this country live under the challenges of two epidemics, hunger and obesity, which threaten their long-term health and ability to learn,” says AFHK CEO Rob Bisceglie. “Fortunately, through our partnership with the Walmart Foundation, we’re helping kids meet this dual challenge head-on by ensuring they get nutritious breakfasts every day they attend school.”
Designated for the 2013-2014 school year, the School Grants for Healthy Kids will go to schools that participate in the national School Breakfast Program and will be distributed to selected schools in: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
“Starting the day with a morning meal is an important part of eating healthy, but unfortunately many students across the country don’t have the resources available to start the day with an adequate breakfast. School breakfast programs work to ensure greater access to this important meal,” said Karrie Denniston, director of the Walmart Foundation. “By supporting organizations like Action for Healthy Kids we can ensure that our nation’s children have access to school breakfast and nutrition education programs, and help families develop long-term healthy eating habits.”
For a complete listing of pilot schools, visit:
ActionforHealthyKids.org/component/content/article/30-special-pages/852-universal-breakfast-grants.
Lorna Grisby
Communications Manager
Action for Healthy Kids
600 W. Van Buren Street, Suite #720
Chicago, IL 60607
312 878 7672 (T, W, F)
773 280 9256 (M,Th)
lorna@ActionforHealthyKids.org
Take Action for Healthy Kids!
About Action for Healthy Kids ®
Action for Healthy Kids® fights childhood obesity, undernourishment and physical inactivity by helping schools become healthier places so kids can live healthier lives. We partner with a legion of dedicated volunteers - teachers, students, moms, dads, school wellness experts and more - from within the ranks of our 55,000+ constituency to create healthful school changes. After all, everyone has a part to play in ending the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic. Our programs, tools and resources make it possible so that many people can. Our grassroots efforts are supported by a collaboration of more than 70 organizations, corporations and government agencies. Working together, we’re giving kids the keys to health and academic success by meeting them where they are - in the classroom, in the cafeteria and on the playground - with fun physical activity and nutrition lessons and changes that make it possible for them to eat nutritiously and play every day. More information is available at ActionforHealthyKids.org, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Action-for-Healthy-Kids/267076500068?ref=mf, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Act4HlthyKids and on Pinterest at. http://www.pinterest.com/act4healthykids/.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief & Healthy Eating, Sustainability, Career Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Walmart has donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.
###