CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Action for Healthy Kids® (AFHK) will provide nearly $500,000 in grants to 255 schools in 26 states in the 2015-2016 school year through its School Breakfast for Healthy Kids program, funded by the Kellogg Company Fund and the Kellogg Company. The grants will help to improve schools' nutritional environments and increase participation in the national School Breakfast Program through expanded alternative school breakfast programs.
While many schools offer breakfast, they are not always able to offer it in a way that encourages students to participate. Increasing access to and participation in school breakfast is critical to ensuring students are fueled to take on the days' lessons. Grants range from $1,750 to $2,100 and help schools purchase equipment as well as provide in-school assistance and technical support to implement programs and improve school nutrition and breakfast access for students.
"It is thanks to the support of dedicated partners like Kellogg's that we are able to continue to reach more and more schools and students each year with our school breakfast grants," said Rob Bisceglie, CEO Action for Healthy Kids. "Nationwide, so many more kids are eligible for school breakfast than actually participate. Programs like alternative school breakfast help to bridge that gap and provide vital nutrition to kids who need it the most."
Since 2009, AFHK has helped schools take advantage of the National School Breakfast program and increase breakfast participation among their students, on average, by 50%. As outlined in AFHK's recently released School Breakfast Impact Report, universal and alternative school breakfast programs help schools overcome many obstacles by offering breakfast where students are located, whether in the hall, the classroom, or grab and go breakfast near the school entrance or cafeteria. With support from Kellogg's, AFHK has served more than 17 million new breakfasts to 113,697 hungry or undernourished students since 2009.
Schools funded this year will be among the first to utilize AFHK's new School Portal featuring the 2014 School Health Index (SHI), an online assessment tool developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to guide school-based obesity prevention and health promotion efforts. AFHK has worked closely with the CDC to offer an abbreviated online version of the SHI that addresses two health topics: nutrition and physical activity. It also includes resources, reporting options, an online action plan, and a HealthierUS School Challenge readiness estimate.
"Far too many children across the U.S. are starting their day at a deficit – simply because they're missing out on breakfast. We think that's unacceptable, and that's why we've partnered with Action for Healthy Kids to provide resources that help ensure more kids are starting their school day with the power of breakfast," said Kris Charles, Vice President, Global Communications and Philanthropy, Kellogg Company.
The 2015-2016 School Breakfast for Healthy Kids grants are part of more than $1.4 million in school breakfast and physical activity grants awarded by AFHK in the 2015-2016 school year. A complete list of schools funded by Kellogg Company and the Kellogg Company Fund can be found at www.actionforhealthykids.org/Kellogg. The School Breakfast Impact Report can be downloaded at www.actionforhealthykids.org/Reports. Schools interested in the online School Portal can visit www.actionforhealthykids.org/SchoolPortal.
About Action for Healthy Kids®
Action for Healthy Kids® is a nationwide grassroots network supporting school-based healthy eating and physical activity improvements that increase academic success. With funding opportunities, expert technical assistance and our flagship program, Game On, we mobilize schools, administrators and parents to develop healthy school environments for children. To learn more about the ways our 90,000+ volunteer network is helping to make Every Kid Healthy™, visit us at www.ActionforHealthyKids.org, on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/act4healthykids) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Act4HlthyKids).
About Kellogg Company
At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), we are driven to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter. With 2014 sales of $14.6 billion and more than 1,600 foods, Kellogg is the world's leading cereal company; second largest producer of cookies, crackers and savory snacks; and a leading North American frozen foods company. Our brands – Kellogg's®, Keebler®, Special K®, Pringles®, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg's Corn Flakes®, Rice Krispies®, Cheez-It®, Eggo®, Mini-Wheats® and more – nourish families so they can flourish and thrive. Through our Breakfasts for Better DaysTM initiative, we're providing 1 billion servings of cereal and snacks – more than half of which are breakfasts – to children and families in need around the world by the end of 2016. To learn more, visit www.kelloggcompany.com or follow us on Twitter @KelloggCompany, YouTube and on Social K.
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SOURCE Action for Healthy Kids