• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Champions for Healthy Kids Grant Program Celebrates Five Years of Helping Children Across America Live Healthy and Active Lifestyle

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 12:00 CST

Champions for Healthy Kids, a grant program introduced five years ago to encourage kids to eat healthy and stay active, is now accepting grant applications for 2008. The program is open to schools and community groups with innovative programs aimed at improving youth nutrition and fitness. The entry deadline is Jan. 15, 2008. The application can be found at: http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx

The Champions for Healthy Kids Program this year celebrated its fifth anniversary by awarding a round of $500,000 in grants to 50 grassroots groups and schools across the U.S. for innovative youth nutrition and fitness programs. The program is a partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF) and the President's Council on Physical Fitness that each year provides grants of $10,000 each to 50 nonprofit organizations. Since 2002, General Mills has invested nearly $11 million in overall youth nutrition and fitness programs that have served more than 2 million children across the U.S.

A recent independent study of the Champions program finds that the investment of $10,000 for nutrition and fitness education can go a long way in helping children learn how to eat healthy and stay physically fit. The evaluation showed that the greatest behavior change among children was an increase in physical activity, especially among African-American youth. But awareness of the importance of good nutrition -- such as eating fruits and vegetables -- also increased. In addition, the program had the most impact on grassroots organizations and their communities, which leveraged the grants. Approximately 45 percent of the grantees applied for more money from other funding resources and nearly 80 percent of project activities continue to operate.

"Our evaluation of the Champions for Healthy Kids program shows how important local communities coming together can be in helping children improve their nutrition and health," said Neva H. Cochran, chair of the ADAF and registered dietitian.

The evaluation was released as part of a five-year anniversary celebration last spring at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).

Grant recipients are required to incorporate a fitness and nutrition component in their program and operate with the guidance of a dietetic professional. Using its resources and expertise on nutrition issues, the American Dietetic Association Foundation plays a critical role in evaluating grant proposals. This year's programs serve children from a broad range of racial, geographic and economic backgrounds. Highlights include (see full list of programs attached):

The "Take 10" program offered through Wolfe County Schools in Campton, KY, which uses 10-minute classroom-based physical activity breaks throughout the school day to teach curriculum content and promote healthy behaviors. Totaling 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity each day, the program reduces the amount of sedentary learning time and provides students with an opportunity to re-energize and de-stress during the school day.

San Antonio's "Project Fit 4 Life" program, which teaches students ages 12 though 15 about the benefits of improved eating and exercise habits. The program will promote good self-esteem and a healthy lifestyle through 300 minutes of exercise each week and will create healthy menus. Students will use their "Passport to Fitness" to chart their progress throughout the school year.

The Norwalk, Connecticut Health Department has implemented the "HAPPY Kids" program in response to reports that 23 percent of preschoolers at the Ben Franklin Center are overweight. The program is designed to educate three- to five-year olds about the importance of nutrition and physical activity. By following 5-A-Day guidelines, seeking healthy role models, educating families, and providing access to fitness equipment, the program hopes to inspire healthy lifestyles.

An additional component of the Champions for Healthy Kids program includes sponsorship of the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA), which recognize kids who engage in physical activity for at least one hour, five days a week for six consecutive weeks. For example, the General Mills Foundation supports the PALA program in Minneapolis Public Schools, where this year, 8,000 second- through eighth-graders earned the PALA award for completing the fitness program.

Information on the General Mills Champions program, grant applications, best practices and model programs that can be adopted by any organization are available at www.generalmills.com/foundation. Additional information on the Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards can be found at www.presidentschallenge.org.

The American Dietetic Association Foundation is the philanthropic arm of American Dietetic Association. It 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 of the public. It is the largest provider of scholarships and awards in the field of dietetics.

The General Mills Foundation, celebrating more than 50 years of giving, is a champion for stronger communities. In fiscal 2007, General Mills awarded $82 million to communities across the country, representing more than 5 percent of company pretax profits that year. Of the total, the Foundation contributed more than $20 million in grants in the targeted areas of youth nutrition and fitness, social services, education, and arts and culture. BusinessWeek magazine recently ranked General Mills as the one of the nation's "Most Generous Corporate Donors." In addition, the company was listed as one of the top 10 "Best Corporate Citizens" by CRO Magazine, and in 2007, United Way of America honored General Mills with the 20th annual Spirit of America® Corporate Community Investment Summit Award.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category