GENYOUth and NFL FLAG Kits Encourage Play at Summer Feeding Events

NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- GENYOUth, The PepsiCo Foundation and Food for Good (FFG) today announced that they have joined forces to provide children with nutritious meals and NFL FLAG powered by USA Football kits this summer.

The FFG Summer Meals/NFL FLAG Football Pilot Program provides additional opportunities for children in summer feeding programs to get active while participating in the Summer Food Service Program. The Summer Food Service Program ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Customized NFL FLAG kits, including belts, cones and footballs, are available at all mobile feeding sites within the Pilot.

Hosted in eight cities at 55 mobile feeding sites, the Pilot provides more than 25,000 children with the opportunity for a nourishing meal and increased physical activity this summer.

"GENYOUth is committed to furthering the reach of NFL FLAG Football, so aligning our longtime partners at PepsiCo Foundation and Food For Good Summer Meals in launching a collaborative, meaningful pilot program had numerous health benefits for students," said Alexis Glick, Chief Executive Officer of GENYOUth. "The FFG Summer Meals/NFL FLAG Football Pilot Program will have a positive impact on at-risk youth across the U.S. by encouraging fun, physical activity when they visit summer feeding sites."

For students from food-insecure families, the Summer Food Service Program can be a lifeline during the summer months when they don't have access to school breakfast and lunch programs. Following the Pilot, an analysis will be conducted to understand the impacts made on underserved and high-needs communities through the partnership.

For additional information about Food for Good please visit www.pepsicofoodforgood.com, and for additional information about GENYOUth please visit www.genyouthnow.org.

About GENYOUth

GENYOUth empowers students to create a healthier future for themselves and their peers by convening a network of private and public partners to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that bolster healthy, high-achieving students, schools and communities nationwide. We believe that all students are change-agents, who deserve the opportunity to identify and lead innovative solutions that positively impact nutrition, physical activity, and student success. For more information about GENYOUth, visit: www.genyouthnow.org.

About Food for Good

Food for Good's mission is to make healthy food physically and financially accessible for low-income families through sustainable, business-driven solutions. Food for Good was started in 2009 when PepsiCo employees began exploring how they could leverage the people, passion, and expertise of PepsiCo to make a meaningful impact in our communities. Food for Good's summer meal program works with local nonprofit organizations and government agencies to provide meals to children at risk of hunger. Food for Good is able to leverage PepsiCo's expertise in taste and nutrition, distribution, and its scale to effectively and efficiently reach kids in need.

About PepsiCo Foundation

Established in 1962, the PepsiCo Foundation works with non-profit partners to develop innovative, sustainable solutions that address challenges in underserved communities around the world.  The Foundation, along with PepsiCo and its employees, seeks to catalyze efforts that advance our Performance with Purpose 2025 goals related to increasing access to nutritious servings, providing access to safe water, partnering to increase recycling rates, and enabling young women to progress through school and be successful in the workforce. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Global-Citizenship.

About NFL FLAG Powered by USA Football

NFL FLAG Powered by USA Football (https://www.nflflag.com) provides opportunities for children ages 5-17 to enjoy America's favorite sport. With more than 400,000 participants nationwide, players benefit by being physically active through non-contact, continuous action while learning the fundamentals of football, lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship. NFL FLAG is a program of PLAY 60, the NFL's campaign to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity.

About FLIPANY

Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth (FLIPANY), a local non-profit organization, empowers youth and adults through nutrition and fitness programs while raising awareness and creating policy changes for healthier, more food secure communities. The Florida partner of the national Share our Strength's Cooking Matters program, FLIPANY has been instrumental in helping the community recognize the importance of their health, how to make healthy lifestyle choices, and the critical role nutrition and physical activity plays in the health and development of children and adults.  To date, FLIPANY's nutrition and fitness professionals have educated over 30,000 participants, worked with over 500 volunteers and partnered with more than 60 community agencies to combat childhood hunger and obesity.  For more information about FLIPANY, please visit www.FLIPANY.org.

SOURCE GENYOUth