Eos Foundation Provides Over $70,000 in Healthy Start Awards to 145 Schools Across Massachusetts

Awards recognize schools serving at least 80% of students universal free school breakfast primarily through Breakfast in the Classroom model

BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Eos Foundation today announced that 145 schools across Massachusetts will receive 2026 Healthy Start Awards for serving school breakfast to at least 80% of students. Together, these schools enroll 48,000 students. Each will receive a $500 unrestricted award, totaling over $70,000 in funding distributed across the Commonwealth.

Of the schools honored, 87% utilize Breakfast in the Classroom as one of their breakfast service models. Considered the Gold Star Breakfast Model by Eos, this approach incorporates morning meals into the school day and has been shown to significantly increase participation.

"Massachusetts is one of only nine states that has passed universal free school meals for all K-12 students, allowing us to ensure that every child begins the school day nourished and able to focus," said Andrea Silbert, President of the Eos Foundation. "Schools which provide breakfast in the classroom typically experience twice the level of student participation than before the bell school cafeteria programs. We want to celebrate the principals, teachers, school nutrition professionals, custodial staff, and entire school communities who make that possible, and highlight strategies that can help more schools achieve similar results."

Massachusetts has provided universal free meals to all students since 2023, but breakfast participation is less than half of lunch participation statewide. According to the latest data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, an average of 588,654 students ate school lunch each day in fall 2025, compared to 291,792 students who ate school breakfast, leaving nearly 300,000 kids missing out on the meal daily. At a time when many families are facing increasing economic pressure and uncertainty around access to food assistance programs, school breakfast can serve as an important nutritional safety net for children.

The awards come as the Healey-Driscoll Administration launches the Strengthening School Breakfast Challenge, a new statewide initiative aimed at increasing breakfast participation and helping more students begin the day with a healthy meal. The administration is collaborating with the Eos Foundation, Project Bread, and New England Dairy to provide schools with resources, technical assistance, and funding opportunities to build up their breakfast programs.

"Every student deserves to start the school day nourished, supported and ready to learn," said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike. "Thanks to free universal school meals, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made tremendous progress in expanding access to healthy, nutritious meals at school, but we know there's more work to do. Through the Strengthening School Breakfast Challenge, we're partnering with schools and community organizations to build on that progress and remove barriers to help more students start their day ready to succeed."

Research shows that how breakfast is served can significantly impact student participation. A recent Nutrition Policy Institute study found that students were three times more likely to eat school breakfast when it was served in the classroom rather than only in the cafeteria before school started. Breakfast in the Classroom helps remove common barriers to participation, including transportation schedules, family routines and the challenges many students face in arriving early enough to eat before classes begin.

"We know from educators and parents that students learn better on full stomachs, and these Healthy Start Awards celebrate schools that are helping more children start their day with a nutritious meal," said Senator Sal DiDomenico. "Breakfast in the Classroom is an incredibly important way to remove barriers and help students take advantage of the free meals available to them. I'm grateful to the Eos Foundation for its continued partnership and support for schools in my district and across the Commonwealth."

The Healthy Start Awards are part of the Eos Foundation's broader effort to increase access to school breakfast across Massachusetts. Through Breakfast in the Classroom, Eos provides grants of up to $20,000 per school, along with technical assistance and implementation support, to help eligible schools strengthen or expand their breakfast programs. Funding can support equipment, operational expenses, and incentives that help schools incorporate breakfast into the school day.

Since launching the Healthy Start Awards in 2014, Eos has partnered with districts across Massachusetts to boost participation and recognize approaches that help students start the day ready to learn.

The complete list of 2026 Healthy Start Award recipients is available here.

Schools interested in learning more about Breakfast in the Classroom grants and technical assistance can visit eosfoundation.org.

About the Eos Foundation
The Eos Foundation is a private foundation focused on systemic solutions to end hunger in Massachusetts. Since 2013, Eos has supported hundreds of schools with Breakfast in the Classroom start-up grants and annually recognizes schools with at least 80% breakfast participation through its Healthy Start Awards. Learn more at eosfoundation.org.

Media Contact:
Neeve Prendergast
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SOURCE Eos Foundation