Contact:
Eric Slutsky, GENYOUth, eric.slutsky@genyouthnow.org, 917-391-6709
Greg Szklany, American Dairy Association North East, GSzklany@Milk4u.Org, 315-729-1722
Nancy Deering, Newark Board of Education, ndeering@nps.k12.nj.us, 973-733-6265
Newark Public School District Takes Giant Stride to Address Food Insecurity
New York Giants Wide Receiver Darius Slayton Will Help Unveil New School Meal Equipment at
Newark School of Global Studies During National School Breakfast Week
on Thursday, March 10, 2022
NEWARK, N.J. (March 7, 2022) – GENYOUth, a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating healthier school communities, announced today the donation of school meal equipment, including a grab and go breakfast cart, a milk cooler and cooler bags, to Newark Public Schools. The equipment, which is being funded by PRWeek through GENYOUth’s End Student Hunger Fund in partnership with American Dairy Association North East (ADANE), will be unveiled at a special National School Breakfast Week celebration with New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton at the Newark School of Global Studies (24 Crane Street, Newark, NJ) on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Since 2017, GENYOUth’s grab and go breakfast cart program has combatted food insecurity within schools through an alternative meal delivery model that drives greater student engagement by addressing the challenges hindering participation. These include lack of time, convenience, and the stigma associated with school breakfast in the cafeteria. Currently, there are over 500 GENYOUth-funded meal carts in American public schools, which have helped to increase average daily participation by as much as 27% and to expand access to 50 million school meal opportunities.
Research supports what educators and school officials see every day in our nation’s schools: a well-nourished child who starts the day with breakfast is more likely to be in school, a better learner, and willing to participate in the classroom.
“In our schools, we have experienced first-hand, the positive impact that a healthy breakfast plays in the overall ability of our students to learn and achieve academic success,” said Roger León, Superintendent of Newark Board of Education. “Grab and go breakfast carts help ensure that a nutritious start to the day is available for all students. I’d like to thank GENYOUth, PRWeek and American Dairy Association North East for their commitment in donating new school meal equipment to the Newark School of Global Studies.”
The statistics surrounding food insecurity for children in Newark and New Jersey overall underscore the need for a concerted effort to ensure meals are easily and readily accessible. One in five New Jersey children live in poverty, and in Newark Public Schools, students of color represent 91.6%, with 80.4% of students qualifying for free and reduced meals based on household income.
“Nationally, one in six children lives in food insecurity, and in school districts serving a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic students such as Newark, the number is closer to one in three. Schools are anchors of community nutrition, and we need to support them and provide the equipment they need to increase access and grow participation in the school meal program.” said registered dietitian Ann Marie Krautheim, President and Chief Wellness Officer of GENYOUth. “We cannot end student hunger without the support of committed partners, and I want to thank PRWeek for their generous donation of a new school breakfast cart and other much needed equipment, as well as American Dairy Association North East and the dairy farmer community for stepping up to tackle hunger.”
“Purposeful communication and purposeful business is one of the biggest agenda points for the brands and businesses that PRWeek covers, and we’ll be digging deep into these issues at our annual PRDecoded conference in Chicago on October 11-12. But, as well as covering purpose as an issue, it’s important for PRWeek to walk the walk too – and we are delighted to support GENYOUth’s excellent work in helping young people and combating food insecurity,” said Steve Barrett, VP, editorial director, PRWeek & Campaign.
“As a dairy farmer, I am thrilled to see Newark’s priority in fueling students each and every day with a balanced and healthy breakfast,” said Mount Vernon, NJ dairy farmer Graham Ackerly. “I take great pride in helping to produce a nutritious part of school meals – which includes the milk, and often yogurt, or cheese. Dairy farmers are committed to providing these healthy products that students enjoy and look forward to seeing how the addition of grab and go carts will make breakfast more accessible to more students throughout Newark.”
“I am proud to be a part of this community initiative in Newark,” said New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton. “As a professional football player, I am passionate about the role nutrition plays in shaping healthy lives, both on and off the field. So, I proudly support programs that make it easier for students to get a healthy breakfast and be more active, ultimately allowing them to reach their full potential.”
Since its creation in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, GENYOUth’s End Student Hunger Fund has been dedicated to providing equipment and resources to help deliver and distribute school meals to the 30 million students nationwide who rely on them for their daily nutrition needs. To date, New Jersey schools have submitted a total of 488 applications requesting $1.4 million in grants. For more information about GENYOUth or to make a donation, visit genyouthnow.org.
About GENYOUth
GENYOUth is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that creates healthier school communities. We convene a network of private and public partners, including Fortune 100 companies and foundations, to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that give youth the inspiration, motivation, and programs to be healthy high-achieving students. GENYOUth’s flagship program, Fuel Up to Play 60, enrolls over 73,000 U.S. schools, reaching over 38 million students. Our school nutrition grants increase access to healthy school meals among food insecure students. NFL FLAG-In-School is GENYOUth’s fastest growing program with over 25,000+ school communities reaching over 15 million students. AdVenture Capital brings out the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of students with the support of corporate mentors to solve real world problems. And starting in 2021, GENYOUth has been the official charitable partner of Taste of the NFL, a purpose-driven Super Bowl culinary experience which raises awareness and generates funds to fight hunger and food insecurity. For more information on GENYOUth, visit www.genyouthnow.org.
About American Dairy Association North East (ADANE)
American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council® and the regional consolidation of three promotion organizations including the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. Committed to nutrition education and research-based communications, ADANE provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Funded by dairy checkoff dollars from nearly 10,000 dairy farm families in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and northern Virginia, ADANE works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the North East region.
About Newark Board of Education
The Newark Public School District is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The racial and ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.
About PRWeek
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