July 06, 2004

By: Leslie Dixon
Website: http://www.1st-in-kids.com

General Mills Champions Grants Awarded to Help Children Nationwide Develop Skills to Eat Healthy and Stay Fit

Fifty nonprofit community groups across the U.S. received grants totaling $500,000 from the General Mills Foundation to support pioneering programs that help children develop lifelong nutrition and physical fitness habits.

Now in its second year, the General Mills Champions program is a long-term partnership between the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Challenge. Additional components of the initiative include sponsorship of the Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards, as well as the development of nutrition and fitness mentoring models.

The initiative provides grants of $10,000 to schools or nonprofit community groups with programs that equip children and their families with skills they need to eat a balanced diet and exercise on a regular basis.

This year's grant winners include programs such as Splash! Kids Aquatic Program for low-income African-American families in Philadelphia. Others include the Reading, Running and Celery Sticks program in St.

Louis that combines physical activities with a reading program for 3-5-year-olds; Portland's Healthy Start Program-Nutrition and Fitness Services that targets first-time mothers between the ages of 16 and 20; Give Me Five, an after-school program in Paul, Idaho in which healthy snacks will be served, 20 minutes will be devoted to physical activities, and a registered dietitian will present a weekly nutrition activity for students.

Our success with the program last year demonstrates the power of partnering with local organizations across America to provide young people with the tools they need to live healthy, balanced and active lives, said Chris Shea, president of the General Mills Foundation. The program dovetails with the long-term work of the President's Challenge, the ADAF and General Mills.

Utilizing its resources and expertise on nutrition issues, the ADAF plays a critical role in evaluating the grant proposals. In addition to the grants, the General Mills Foundation provides support for up to 50,000 young people who participate in the President's Challenge and earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award for their commitment to a physically active and fit lifestyle.

Any community-based, nonprofit organization or agency is eligible to apply for this annual program for one of 50 grants of $10,000 each. Preschools, as well as elementary, middle and high schools are eligible. Among the requirements for receiving a General Mills Champions grant is that the program must include both a strong nutrition education and a physical activity component.

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 General Mills Foundation, celebrating its 50th year of giving, is a champion for stronger communities. In fiscal year 2003, General Mills awarded $77 million to communities across the country - representing more than 5 percent of company pretax profits. Of that amount, the Foundation awarded a total of $20 million in grants in the targeted areas of youth nutrition and fitness, family life, education, and arts and culture.

The American Dietetic Association Foundation is the philanthropic arm of ADA. It is a 501 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.

About The Author:

Leslie Dixon is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kids.com.  Helping parents find kid-approved clothes, toys, games, books, activities and more.