Funds will be used to enable health and wellness changes in their schools and communities
Several schools along the Front Range will be healthier due to $1,500 grants from the Leprino Foods Company Foundation to implement healthy changes in their schools and communities. Students earned the grants for their schools during a “Health Innovation Challenge” hosted at Leprino Foods Company in Denver.
The Leprino Foods Company Foundation, in conjunction with partners, GENYOUth and Western Dairy Association, created the event to empower students to use their ideas to improve school nutrition and wellness. Throughout the day-long program, more than 50 high school students from schools throughout the Front Range – from Colorado Springs to Greeley — designed and pitched their big ideas for improving nutrition and enhancing wellness at their schools to a panel of judges.
“Every single student brought a big idea to the table,” said Mike Reidy, senior vice president of corporate affairs, Leprino Foods. “While not every student was able to walk away with a grant to help implement their idea in their school, hopefully the students will take away a better understanding of how to harness their ideas and make them a reality in their schools.”
Student participants gained valuable leadership, collaboration, and innovation skills first-hand by designing and pitching their ideas for improving nutrition and wellness at their schools to a panel of judges. Schools from Colorado Springs to Greeley – working individually and in groups – worked with mentors to develop and prepare for their presentations.
The 10 winning ideas that will each receive a $1,500 grant from the Leprino Foods Company Foundation are:
Adams City High School (Baby Steps Project)
Denver Academy (Mentoring Physical Activity)
Denver Academy (New Athlete)
Doherty High School (Doherty Food Fair)
Doherty High School (Healthy Student, Healthy Teacher)
Mitchell High School (MAP)
Mountain View High School (Movement Matters)
Mountain View High School (Spread the Health)
Mountain View High School (White Table)
STEM Launch (STEM Inspired)
Alexis Glick, CEO of GENYOUth added, “The amazing brain power assembled in the room today was so inspiring to see. I encouraged every one of these student leaders to be loud, proud and confident in what they accomplished today and in the months ahead. This event was the result of a tremendous collaboration between the Leprino Foods Company Foundation and Western Dairy Association, who share our vision and our passion, to empower youth to drive positive healthy change in their schools and communities by enabling them to be healthy, high-achieving students.”
Additional grant funds and mentorship opportunities are available through GENYOUth’s AdVenture Capital program. Young entrepreneurs who are ready to make health and wellness changes in their schools can visit www.adcapyouth.org.