The Dannon Company Awards the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake the Fifth Annual Dannon Next Generation Nutrition® Grant

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dannon Company, Inc. awarded the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake the fifth annual Dannon Next Generation Nutrition® Grant in support of their Activate America® program. Dannon presented the YMCA with a $30,000 check following the opening of the YMCA's new 5,000 square-foot Community Family Center facility in Taylorsville.

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Activate America® works with children and their families to addresses problems associated with poor nutrition, health and sedentary lifestyles. The program will reach 500 children and their families from the Salt Lake area with a curriculum that emphasizes food preparation, nutrition, teamwork and physical activity. Activate America® creates an individualized path for each participant in order to build a strong foundation for a lifetime of fitness and wellness habits.

"For 117 years, the YMCA has been dedicated to providing tools for our residents to strengthen their well-being," said Angela Wright, director of the YMCA's Community Family Center. "Activate America is yet another extension of the YMCA's commitment to the greater Salt Lake area and we're honored by Dannon's grant."

Activate America® addresses a well-documented problem in Utah and across the nation. According to recent data from the Utah Department of Health, one in five elementary school students in Utah is of an unhealthy weight.

"Eating habits often develop during childhood," said Utah's Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell. "Dannon's grant will allow this initiative to address prevalent health problems in our community."

From 2006 through 2010, programs funded through Dannon's Next Generation Nutrition® grants have reached nearly 1,375 children and families in Salt Lake County and have produced positive results in the community.

"The YMCA's Activate America program is perfect for carrying out Dannon's commitment to encourage children and their families to live healthy," said Gayle Binney, Dannon's corporate responsibility manager. "This initiative will reach 500 children and their families, having a long-lasting, positive effect on the health of the Salt Lake community.

Dannon established the Dannon Next Generation Nutrition® Grant in 2006 to promote childhood nutrition education in each of the four communities where a Dannon facility is located. As part of the program, Dannon contributes $30,000 to four non-profit organizations ($120,000 in total) in Auglaize County, Ohio; Salt Lake County, Utah; Tarrant County, Texas; and Westchester County, New York, for programs that nurture healthy eating habits among children.

Today's grant ceremony was attended by Utah's Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell, Mayor Melissa Johnson of West Jordan and Mayor Russ Wall of Taylorsville. Also in attendance were Gayle Binney, Dannon's corporate responsibility manager and Jean-Philippe Nattero, Dannon's senior plant director.

About the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake

Throughout the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake's 117-year history, it has followed the YMCA's mission to provide local communities with programs and services that enhance healthy mind, body and spirit and strive to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

The YMCA of Greater Salt Lake's strategic vision is to be the leader in understanding and meeting the communities' needs by developing and adapting quality programs and services that provide value to children and families.

The YMCA currently operates 20 programs at 18 sites throughout the Granite, Ogden, Salt Lake and Weber School Districts.  Together, these programs serve over 2,500 youth and families each year.  

About The Dannon Company, Inc.

The Dannon Company is America's founding national yogurt company and continually leverages its expertise to develop and market innovative cultured fresh dairy products in the United States.  Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Dannon has plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, and West Jordan, UT and produces approximately 100 different types of flavors, styles and sizes of cultured fresh dairy products.  Dannon is a subsidiary of Danone, one of the world's leading producers of packaged foods and beverages, and Dannon is the top-selling brand of yogurt products worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone.

With a strong commitment to high-quality, wholesome, nutritious and innovative products, The Dannon Company is committed to encouraging people to eat a balanced diet and live a healthy lifestyle.  In 2009, for the ninth year in a row, Danone was listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a worldwide reference for socially responsible businesses.  Danone is a recognized leader for its contributions to nutrition and health and was ranked best in class in a 2008 JPMorgan & Insight Investment study about the response of the world's largest food companies to obesity and health-related concerns. This commitment is also illustrated through The Dannon Company's support of the Dannon Institute, an independent, non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting research, education, and communication about the links between nutrition, diet and health.  For more information, please visit www.dannon.com.

SOURCE The Dannon Company, Inc.