CHICAGO, Mar. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As National School Breakfast Week (March 4-8, 2019) comes to a close, Action for Healthy Kids® (AFHK) invites schools nationwide to apply for school breakfast grants that provide in-school assistance, technical support and funding for equipment to improve schools' nutritional environments and increase participation in the National School Breakfast Program among hungry and undernourished children. Schools can help students start the day right by applying for a grant up to $3,000 for the 2019-2020 school year, now through April 5, 2019 at actionforhealthykids.org/grants.
Increasing access to and participation in school breakfast is critical to ensuring students are fueled to take on the school day. Research shows kids who eat school breakfast are more likely to consume diets adequate or better in key vitamins and minerals, have decreased behavioral problems and tardiness, miss fewer schools days, and show increased cognitive and academic performance. AFHK's school breakfast grants are designed to help administrators launch or expand school breakfast programs in schools where 60% or more of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the federal government's school meals programs.
Applicants can take inspiration from more than 1,660 schools that have received school breakfast grants funded by Walmart Foundation since 2012. Through these grants, AFHK has helped schools serve more than 42 million new breakfasts to 194,211 students who previously were eligible but did not participate in the National School Breakfast program. These schools have increased Average Daily Participation (ADP) rates on average by 71%. In the current school year,189 schools in 28 states have received grants from AFHK, funded by the Walmart Foundation.
"Even as more states and schools expand breakfast in the classroom, which is proven to increase school breakfast participation, the goal remains to ensure all states provide access to school breakfast for low-income students," said Rob Bisceglie, CEO, Action for Healthy Kids. "Thanks to the continued generosity of the Walmart Foundation, many more students will have access to school breakfast this year to help them start the school day right."
"Funding to Action for Healthy Kids is part of our commitment to fight hunger, provide access to nutrition education, and create a more sustainable food system," said Eileen Hyde, Director of Hunger and Nutrition for the Walmart Foundation. "These funds will provide schools the support and resources they need to help level the playing field when it comes to providing access to school breakfast for all students."
Schools can apply for breakfast grants, as well as grants that support physical activity and nutrition education initiatives in the 2019-2020 school year, by visiting http://www.actionforhealthykids.org. Success stories and a complete list of schools funded by AFHK through Walmart Foundation's support in the 2018-2019 school year can be found at http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/Walmart.
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 volunteer network is helping to make Every Kid Healthy™, visit us at http://www.actionforhealthykids.org.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. Walmart has stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Our philanthropy helps people live better by supporting upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where Walmart operates and inspiring our associates to give back.
To learn more about Walmart's giving, visit http://giving.walmart.com/foundation.
SOURCE Action for Healthy Kids
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