PepsiCo Foundation Invests $1.25 Million In School Health And Wellness Programs

PURCHASE, N.Y., July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the PepsiCo Foundation announced two grants geared towards improving the health and wellness of America's kids through the power of physical activity and good nutrition.  The grants, totaling $1.25 million USD, support the GENYOUth Foundation's flagship program, Fuel Up to Play 60, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas' Healthy Zone School (HZS) Recognition Program, two leading school-based health and wellness programs.  The announcement was made during GENYOUth's 2014 Nutrition + Physical Activity Learning Connection Summit at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

A growing body of research shows that physical activity and healthy eating are positively linked with student academic achievement¹.  Both HZS and Fuel Up to Play 60 are school-based initiatives designed to influence the nutrition and physical activity environment in schools that can result in measurable changes in student behavior and/or fitness outcomes.  Both programs recognize and reward schools for their healthy practices. 

"PepsiCo and its philanthropic arm, the PepsiCo Foundation, believe positive change in our communities can only happen through strong partnerships," said Tom Greco, president of Frito-Lay North America, a division of PepsiCo. "The PepsiCo Foundation is proud to work with such influential partners in the school health and wellness arena.  The $1.25 million Foundation grant expands the valuable relationships Quaker and Frito-Lay have already established with the GENYOUth Foundation and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas."

Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation's largest in-school wellness program, helping schools provide increased opportunities to be physically active for 60 minutes a day and access to tasty, nutrient-dense foods in more than 73,000 schools.  The program was created in partnership with the National Football League (NFL) and the National Dairy Council (NDC), founded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Fuel Up to Play 60 empowers schools to help lead nutrition and physical activity changes that contribute to healthy, high achieving students.

The Healthy Zone School Recognition Program, developed by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (UWMD) and The Cooper Institute®, is a rigorous two-fold program designed to recognize and reward schools for their healthy practices.  Using evidence-based knowledge and best practices to assist schools in creating an environment optimal for promoting healthy behaviors, schools undergo a rigorous application process to be selected for participation in the program.  In the three years since launching the program, UWMD has served 31,000 students.

The GENYOUth Foundation

The $550,000 grant to GENYOUth Foundation will support Fuel Up to Play 60 en Espanol, which has been developed specifically to address the needs of Latino students and their families, a population in which the prevalence of overweight, obesity² and food insecurity³ is especially high in the U.S. 

To help overcome the language barrier, the grant funding will be used to create Spanish language materials for students, parents and educators and will be available nationwide. In addition, select schools will also receive mini-grants to be used for resources to help the school implement healthy changes, such as breakfast carts or athletic equipment. These resources will extend and deepen program impact, which to date has helped 14 million students become more physically active and make better food choices, including choosing low-fat and fat-free dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

"Schools cannot act alone—they need the combined power of the community, including business partners with shared goals, to equip students, educators and schools with the critical resources they need to create healthy environments," said GENYOUth Foundation CEO Alexis Glick. "Public-private partnerships like the one between the GENYOUth Foundation, the PepsiCo Foundation and United Way are the blueprint to affect real change for our nation's kids."

The GENYOUth Foundation public-private partnership combines the power of the NFL, NDC and leading health and education organizations with grant providers like the PepsiCo Foundation and the Quaker Oats Company.  Quaker, a division of PepsiCo, has helped fuel families through the power of whole grain oats for more than 135 years.  Since 2011, Quaker has supported the GENYOUth Foundation and Fuel Up to Play 60 programs that help parents inspire their kids to eat right and find physical activity solutions that engage and motivate the whole family.

"As one of America's most trusted nourishment companies, we have a commitment to help build happy and healthy families," said Jose Luis Prado, president of Quaker Foods North America and GENYOUth board member. "From thought-leadership support to campaigns that reward and further develop Fuel Up to Play 60 schools, Quaker is proud to collaborate with the GENYOUth Foundation in multiple ways to advance schools wellness and inspire a better future."

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

The $700,000 USD PepsiCo Foundation grant to UWMD will fund an expansion of the HZS program across metropolitan Dallas from the 51 schools currently served to 90 schools.  The grant will also fund a three-year pilot program in the Arlington, Texas school district that links Fuel Up to Play 60 and HZS. 

"We are deeply grateful for the PepsiCo Foundation's investment in the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program – vital to United Way's commitment to eradicating childhood obesity," said Jennifer Sampson, president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.  "The pilot in Arlington will accelerate our plans to scale nationally.  By aligning ourselves with powerful partners like GENYOUth Foundation, Fuel Up to Play 60, the NFL and the PepsiCo Foundation, our collective impact is much stronger and will result in far reaching health outcomes that will advance the lives of thousands of children."

Tom Greco is serving as chairman for UWMD's 2014 campaign.  "Contributing to the health and well-being of citizens within our community is an integral part of PepsiCo's culture," Greco said. "Through our long-term partnership with United Way, our two organizations are making a lasting difference in lives within our local community."

The Foundation has vast experience creating and supporting programs that promote healthy lifestyles, affordable nutrition, access to clean water, sustainable agriculture, youth employability and the economic empowerment of women. 

About PepsiCo Foundation
PepsiCo Foundation is the philanthropic anchor of PepsiCo, providing charitable contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations in the health, environment and education fields. Since the 1950s, PepsiCo has been dedicated to funding educational programs for the underserved, and Diplomas Now is one of PepsiCo Foundation's signature programs.

About GENYOUth Foundation
Founded through an unprecedented public-private partnership with National Dairy Council (NDC) and the National Football League (NFL) committed to child health and wellness, GENYOUth brings leaders in health, education, government and business together in a movement to help America's youth achieve a healthier future. Their flagship program, Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60), is the largest health and wellness program in schools across the country and is currently active in more than 73,000 schools. Launched with additional partnership support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), FUTP 60 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. GENYOUth and FUTP 60 empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. When youth take action, change can happen. For more information, visit www.GENYOUthFoundation.org.

About United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas brings people together to improve lives and create lasting change here in North Texas by focusing on education, income, and health -- the building blocks for strong families and thriving communities. We galvanize and connect all sectors of society – individuals, businesses, non-profits, and government – to create long-term change through investing in solutions that produce healthy, well-educated and financially stable individuals and families. We raise, invest and leverage over $50M annually in community-focused solutions serving Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and southern Denton counties. We do more than help one person beat the odds – we are changing the odds for entire communities. Together, we LIVE UNITED. To learn more, please visit UnitedWayDallas.org.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate.

¹ American College of Sports Medicine, American School Health Association, GENYOUth Foundation, National Dairy Council, The Wellness Impact: Enhancing Academic Through Healthy School Environment, March 2013.

² U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. Obesity and Hispanic Americans. Available at: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=6459. Accessed on June 25, 2014.

³ Feeding America. Hispanic/Latino Hunger. Available at: http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hispanic-latino-hunger.aspx. Accessed on June 25, 2014.

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SOURCE PepsiCo