The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand Awards Local Boaz, AL Second Grader With $30,000 School Cafeteria Makeover And $15,000 Cash Prize For Inspiring Families To Cook Together

RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif., Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand, the number-one selling brand of rice in the United States, named Claire Noles, 7, and her mother Rachel of Boaz, Alabama the grand prize winners of the Ben's Beginners™ Cooking Contest. The Contest was created to help children make healthier eating choices by getting in the kitchen at an early age.

Three finalists were selected from nearly 1,000 entrants (grades kindergarten-8th) who submitted videos of themselves and their families preparing a rice-based dish as part of the second annual cooking contest. Claire and Rachel Noles were selected as the grand prize winners and awarded with a $15,000 cash prize, two appearances on the Rachael Ray Show and a $30,000 cafeteria makeover for Corley Elementary School, located in Boaz, Ala., where Claire attends as a second grade student. 

"Our mission behind Ben's Beginners™ is to inspire more families to get in the kitchen together," said Tim Snyder, vice president of sales and marketing, Mars Food US, the parent company of the UNCLE BEN'S^® Brand. "With their winning recipe, the Noles family has inspired families across the state of Alabama to get in the kitchen with their kids and connect with each another."

"It is inspiring to me that this young lady, with the help of her family, has reached so many folks about the importance of nutrition in getting a healthy start in life," said Alabama Governor, Robert Bentley. "Whether in the kitchen at home or in the school cafeteria, eating healthy, balanced meals is important for our children's well-being."

"It is great to see the community come together to recognize Claire in her accomplishment," said Dr. Thomas Bice, State Superintendent of Education. "The high level of community support multiplies the positive effect of this award and other efforts we're making to promote healthy lifestyles in our students."

"Ms. Noles has made a fine contribution to her school and to the City of Boaz," said Mayor Tim Walker.  "I'm happy to announce today, January 9, 2014 as 'Ben's Beginners Day' and give Ms. Noles the key to the city today to recognize her for her hard work."

Corley Elementary School celebrated their hometown hero today by hosting an assembly which included a check presentation and a cooking demonstration in which Claire prepared her winning recipe, "Chicken and Rice Supreme." First Lady Dianne Bentley and the Mayor of Boaz, Tim Walker, presented Claire with proclamations announcing January 9, 2014 as "Ben's Beginners Day" in the state of Alabama. Claire was also recognized for her achievement by being presented with the Key to the City by the Mayor, Tim Walker.

More information on the contest, kid-friendly recipe ideas and cooking tips can be found at www.unclebens.com.

About the UNCLE BEN'S® Brand
The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand, the number one rice brand in America, is proud to offer a wide range of rice dishes with flavors and grains that will help bring more to your meals, both for convenient side dishes and savory main courses. The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand offers a wide variety of white, whole grain brown, and flavored rices in cook times ranging from 90 seconds to 30 minutes, as well as rice for food service operations such as restaurants, schools and hospitals. The first mass-produced parboiled rice, UNCLE BEN'S® Brand is the top-selling branded rice in the United States and products can be found in more than 100 countries worldwide. The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand products are manufactured by Mars Food North America, part of Mars, Incorporated. For more information, visit www.unclebens.com.

To view the multimedia content associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/63764-uncle-bens-beginners-cooking-contest/

Contact: 
Sydney Siegmeth
206.770.7011
[email protected]

SOURCE The Uncle Ben's Brand