Amway Global Sprouts Community Gardens Around the Nation with Boys & Girls Clubs of America

ADA, Mich., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Amway Global announced today that it will partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help build seven community gardens across the United States. The Amway Global Positive Sprouts project mobilizes volunteers and incorporates the gardening expertise of the Green Education Foundation (GEF) to teach kids how to start and maintain their own edible gardens. An accompanying curriculum will educate youngsters about nutrition, organic gardening practices, and cooking from the garden.

"Connecting with the community to improve the lives of today's youth is what this program is all about," said Steve Lieberman, Managing Director of Amway Global. "By creating fun, yet educational activities, our goal is to leverage our expertise as a health and wellness company to teach kids about the importance of incorporating fruits and vegetables into their diet."

This is the first initiative of a three-year commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This project aligns with Amway Global's efforts to help raise public awareness about the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle. Amway Global is the #1 online health and beauty retailer in America, and its NUTRILITE® brand is the world's leading seller of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, based on 2009 sales.

While this is the first national relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Amway Global has partnered with several local Boys & Girls Clubs of America dating back to 1948. The partnership is only one of the ways the AMWAY ONE BY ONE CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN® program helps disadvantaged children through hands-on engagement and financial support. Since 2003, the AMWAY ONE BY ONE CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN has donated more than $112 million to children's causes, touching the lives of 7 million children.

"We are excited to expand our relationship with Amway Global, especially in an area that is so desperately needed to ensure the success of our young people," said Judith J. Pickens, senior vice president for Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Program & Youth Development Services.  "Through the Amway Global Positive Sprouts project we will be able to educate Club members on the importance and value of consuming fruit and vegetables, and help to combat hunger by increasing access to fruits and vegetables to Club members and their families that are harvested from community gardens."

About Amway Global and the Amway One by One Campaign for Children

Based in Ada, Mich., Amway Global is part of the Alticor group of companies, founded by the DeVos and Van Andel families. Alticor is the parent company of Amway Corporation, Access Business Group LLC and Alticor Corporate Enterprises. The company offers consumer products and business opportunities, as well as product development, manufacturing and logistics services in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. The company reported annual sales of $8.4 billion for the year ending December 31, 2009. The AMWAY ONE BY ONE CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN program (AmwayGlobal.com/PositiveCommunities) builds local relationships that result in global impact. Through One by One programs, Amway, its employees, and distributors support hundreds of nonprofit organizations in more than 50 countries working to address the full spectrum of children's needs. Our employees and Independent Business Owners have spent over 1 million hours volunteering to make life better for children around the world.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has enabled young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 4 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

About Green Education Foundation

Green Education Foundation (GEF) is a non-profit organization that provides environmental education resources for Pre K-12 classrooms and youth groups nationwide. GEF believes that what is healthy for the environment is healthy for kids, and promotes learning opportunities that develop sustainable habits of environmental stewardship in children and their communities. GEF couples standards-based curricula with active participation, acknowledging that children learn best through hands-on activities that enhance their critical thinking skills. GEF's National Green Week mobilizes thousands of students each year to participate in eco-challenges that empower school communities to achieve measurable and sustainable goals in waste reduction and energy conservation. Visit www.GreenEducationFoundation.org and register for free to gain full access to the GEF library of standards-based lessons and activities.

SOURCE Amway Global