The General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids initiative, in partnership
with the American Dietetic Association, has awarded $500,000 in grants
to community-based organizations across the United States for programs
that provide youth with the tools they need to live healthy, balanced
and active lifestyles.
The initiative provides 50 grants of $10,000 each to nonprofits, schools
and community organizations to develop creative ways to help kids of all
ages incorporate physical fitness and good nutrition into their daily
lives.
The Champions for Healthy Kids initiative is a partnership of the
General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation,
and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. Since 2002, General
Mills has invested nearly $19.5million in youth nutrition and
fitness programs that have served more than 4.8 million children
nationwide.
“Our biggest priority, through our partnership with the General Mills
Champions for Healthy Kids initiative, is the health of our nation’s
children,” says Judith L. Dodd, registered dietitian and chair of the
American Dietetic Association Foundation. “This is a complex issue that
requires the combined effort of families, schools, communities,
corporations and health professionals such as registered dietitians to
address the issue. By working together we can make a difference.”
Now in its eighth year, the initiative continues to support programs
that reach out to children from diverse racial, ethnic and
socio-economic backgrounds. They include:
Y on the Move in Providence, RI- This mobile outreach component
of the Greater Providence YMCA uses a fully equipped vehicle to bring
staff and fitness and exercise equipment to at-risk neighborhoods. Y
on the Move is provided free of charge to all kids and is designed to
engage youth in improving healthy eating and increasing active living.
The program is being expanded to reach elementary and middle school
students, linking them with existing programs for high school youth.
The program includes family-focused nutrition and structured physical
activities.
Growing a Path to Wellness, Inola, OK- Students will have a
unique opportunity to learn about all aspects of nutrition by
constructing a greenhouse and growing their own fruits and vegetables.
The garden project will engage students in propagating plants and
learning gardening skills as they increase their knowledge of
nutrition and healthy cooking. Students will also learn how to
incorporate fun fitness activities into their daily routine. The
program will help high school students mentor younger students and
serve as a model for other communities interested in increasing
awareness of fitness and nutrition in their schools.
Bright IDEA: Keeping Kids Healthy, Weslaco, TX- Bright IDEA
believes changes in home and school environments can increase student
awareness about the importance of eating nutritious foods and engaging
in regular physical activity. The program will engage students and
their families in making healthier lifestyle choices through farm
visits, nutrition education and physical activity competitions, and
cooking clubs. Students will increase their exposure to fresh fruits,
veggies, and other healthy foods through experiential learning. Bright
IDEA will also promote positive relationships between the school and
community through a quarterly newsletter, a wellness website, the
Family Fall Festival, and Wellness Week for students, along with a
community-wide spring wellness event.
“Continuing to raise awareness of the importance of increased physical
activity and good nutrition for all our youth is so important,” says
Ellen Goldberg Luger, executive director of the General Mills
Foundation. “We believe these programs provide a foundation of learning
to help our youth and their families enjoy the long-lasting benefits of
a healthy lifestyle.”
Information on the General Mills Champions initiative, grant
applications, and best practices that can be adopted by any organization
are available at www.generalmills.com/foundation.
The American Dietetic Association Foundation, the philanthropic arm
of the American Dietetic Association, is a 501(c) (3) charity devoted
exclusively to nutrition and dietetics. The Foundation funds
scholarships and awards, education and research projects, and ADA
strategic initiatives that promote optimal nutrition, health and
well-being. It is the largest provider of scholarships and awards in the
field of dietetics.
The mission of the General Mills Foundation, celebrating more than 50
years of giving, is to nourish communities. In fiscal 2010, General
Mills awarded more than $100 million to communities across the country,
representing more than 5 percent of company pretax profits. Of the
total, the Foundation contributed $21 million in grants in the targeted
areas of hunger and nutrition wellness, education, social services, and
arts and culture. In addition, 82 percent of employees volunteer in the
communities where they live and work.
General Mills Contacts:
Heidi
Geller, 763-764-6364
Heidi.geller@genmills.com
or
Donna
Svendsen, 763-764-4150
donna.svendsen@genmills.com
or
American
Dietetic Association
Ryan O’Malley, 800-877-1600 ext. 4769
media@eatright.org