Holidays Start Early For San Diego Area Organizations

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the brand's 20 year anniversary and history of community service, the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), creator of got milk?, recently announced that four San Diego area nonprofits are among 20 exemplary winners of the CMPB's commemorative anniversary program, the got milk? 20 Awards.  The local winners are Miracle Babies (San Diego), La Maestra Community Health Centers (San Diego), Child Nutrition Services at Vista Unified School District and San Marcos Unified School District's Child Nutrition Services Department.

"The got milk? 20 Awards are CMPB's way of thanking these leaders that improve the lives of others through service," said Steve James, Executive Director of the CMPB.  "There is no better way to celebrate our milestone anniversary than by saluting these organizations for their untiring work in their communities."

Many of the local winners work to improve the health and wellbeing of their constituents:

• Miracle Babies provides financial assistance and support to families in need with newborns in the neonatal ICU.  It was founded by Dr. Sean Daneshmand after he and his wife nearly lost their daughter at 30 weeks of gestation.
• For the last 24 years, the La Maestra Community Health Centers have been committed to improving the health, wellbeing and self-sufficiency of thousands of diverse San Diego residents. The organization serves an average of 200 underprivileged families a day and has reported over 85,000 patient visits. 
• San Marcos USD's Child Nutrition Services Department has expanded its district wide education initiative to the entire San Marcos community. It holds a yearly Wellness Fair that includes games and activities, entertainment, physical challenges, health screenings and prizes.
• Vista Unified School District's CNS Department provides high quality food service to its students. It integrates innovative programming that promotes youth health and wellness.

The four San Diego area organizations are among the 20 winners chosen through a nomination process held among all California milk processors and their related agencies.  Over 80 inspiring leaders were nominated across the state.  Candidates were judged on the nature of their work, their contributions to improving the quality of life of others and overall effectiveness in their service area. In addition to receiving a commemorative got milk? 20 Award, each winner received a $1,000 cash prize. 

To see the complete list of winners, visit www.gotmilk.com.

About the CMPB
The California Milk Processor Board was established in 1993 to make milk more competitive and increase milk consumption in California.  Awareness of got milk? is over 90% nationally and it is considered one of the most important and successful campaigns in history.  Got milk? is a federally registered trademark that has been licensed by the national dairy boards since 1995.  The CMPB's Spanish-language campaign began in 1994 using the tagline "Familia, Amor y Leche" (Family, Love and Milk).  The TOMA LECHE (Drink Milk) campaign replaced it in 2006, following a growing trend in Hispanic food advertising that uses wit and humor to reach audiences.  Got milk? gifts and recipes can be viewed at www.gotmilk.com and www.tomaleche.com.  The CMPB is funded by all California milk processors and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

SOURCE got milk?