Hayward Unified School District Scores a Touchdown with $20,000 to Encourage Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Amongst Students

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) was presented with a $10,000 'Hometown Grant' from Real California Milk, representing the state's dairy families, and the Oakland Raiders, to expand nutrition and physical activity programs in schools throughout the district. The donation was made in a celebration on September 26 at Southgate Elementary School, which had the highest increase and overall highest elementary test scores in the district. HUSD received an additional $10,000 in resources from The National Foundation on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition in support of the Presidential Youth Fitness program, a national fitness and education assessment initiative.

"Our school district strives to instill characteristics amongst our Made in Hayward students which will allow them to be great leaders in their communities," said Hayward Unified School District Acting Superintendent Matt Wayne. "With the help of $20,000 in financial and in-kind resources to achieve student fitness and wellness goals, we can focus on ensuring healthy minds and healthy bodies."

The 'Hometown Grant,' and match means students in the Hayward Unified School District will join the 13 million students who are eating healthier, 16 million students who are being more active and 130,000 adults who are enrolled and empowering youth in the United States through one national program – Fuel Up to Play 60¹ (FUTP 60).

"We are thrilled to award Hayward Unified School District with a Hometown Grant to promote in-school nutrition and physical activity programs in their schools, which might not be available otherwise," said Jennifer Giambroni, Director of Communications for the CMAB. "FUTP 60 is just one way to show our dairy families' commitment to helping the next generation learn how to eat healthy and make healthy lifestyle choices for life."

Developed by FUTP 60 and the National Football League (NFL), the 'Hometown Grant' program provides teams and dairy organizations like Real California Milk with the opportunity to identify deserving schools in their area and provide them with funding to help meet their health and wellness goals.

Each of the 32 NFL Clubs, Fuel Up to Play 60 and local dairy representatives are providing $10,000 grants in communities throughout the country totaling a $320,000 investment in youth health and wellness. For the 2016 season, the National Foundation on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition is matching the NFL's donation of $10,000 in resources to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the President's Council of Fitness, Sports and Nutrition which is the nation's youth fitness education and assessment program.

"The Raiders' organization, along with California's dairy families, are making a positive impact in local schools around the importance of healthy eating and getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily through the FUTP 60 program," said Rosie Bone, Raiders Senior Vice President – Community Relations and Public Affairs. "Our organization echoes that what you learn on the field is just as important as what you learn off the field and couldn't be more pleased to offer students in our region with these opportunities through their local school systems."

Created in partnership by the NFL and National Dairy Council, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation's largest in-school wellness program creating real transformational change in more than 73,000 schools nationwide. The national in-school nutrition and physical-activity program is activated in California by the state's dairy farm families. Since fall 2014, FUTP 60 has helped to award more than $430,000 in grants to schools throughout California in support of their wellness goals.

About the Oakland Raiders
The Raiders — who began play in the American Football League in 1960 — are in their 57th year of professional football competition, including the last 47 as a member of the National Football League. Over six memorable decades the Raiders have won an American Football League Championship, four American Football Conference Championships, three World Championships of Professional Football, participated in five Super Bowls, played in 14 Championship games, won or tied for 17 Division Championships, had 21 playoff seasons, finished 35 seasons at .500 or better and played in 40 postseason games. With their appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII, the Raiders became the only NFL team to play in Super Bowls in four different decades. In addition, the Raiders are proud to contribute to youth initiatives, community development, environmental concerns and multicultural awareness and global outreach. The Silver and Black maintains a global presence and communicates with the worldwide Raider Nation through the team's official web site and social media properties. For more information, please visit www.raiders.com.

About the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB)
The California Milk Advisory Board (Real California Milk), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state's dairy farm families. With headquarters in Tracy, the CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. The CMAB executes advertising, public relations, research and retail and foodservice promotional programs on behalf of California dairy products, including Real California Milk and Real California Cheese, throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information and to connect with the CMAB through social media, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, like at Facebook, view videos at YouTube, follow at Twitter and Instagram, and pin at Pinterest.

About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), which was founded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. The program additionally encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. As a result of the program, last year 14 million students made better food choices and are getting more physically active during the school day. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association/Foundation, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

About National Foundation on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
The National Foundation on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition believes that the strongest America is one where every citizen has the opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle. As the official foundation of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, the National Foundation is the only congressionally chartered nonprofit with the sole focus to help more Americans be active, play sports & eat healthy. Through private donations and partnerships, the Foundation supports programs and initiatives that educate, engage, and empower Americans of all backgrounds and abilities to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit fitness.foundation.

1.  https://www.fueluptoplay60.com/

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SOURCE California Milk Advisory Board