AUSTIN, TX (Sept.1, 2015) —Whole Kids Foundation is launching the 2015 Growing Healthy Kids Campaign, which aims to raise over $4 million to inspire families and support schools related to children’s nutrition. This year’s goal is to raise funds and awareness to help over one million kids gain access to nutritional education and fresh fruits and vegetables through the funding of salad bars and gardens for schools, as well as nutrition education classes for teachers.
“Our programs work to ensure kids gain better knowledge, understanding, curiosity, and consumption of nutritious fruits and vegetables, which in turn helps them pay better attention in class, improve their academic performance, and build confidence,” said Nona Evans, executive director of Whole Kids Foundation. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how quickly kids truly do come to understand the connection between what they eat and how they feel.”
Twelve retail partners have each committed to donating $40,000 to the Growing Healthy Kids Campaign this September. They are: Annie’s, Applegate, Back to Nature, Barbara’s, Cascadian Farm, Clif Bar, Daily Greens, King Arthur Flour, Organic Valley, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Suja, and Stonyfield Farm. Additionally, Whole Foods Market covers operational costs for the foundation, which allows one hundred percent of individual donations to directly support Whole Kids Foundation programs. Customers can get involved by making a donation at store check-outs or online at wholekidsfoundation.org.
Launching this month, Whole Kids Foundation is introducing a new Healthy Kids Innovation Grant in partnership with United Health Foundation. These grants are meant to pave the way for fresh ideas around children’s health and nutrition in schools. Whole Kids Foundation has also introduced a new Extended Learning Garden Grant, which provides funding to support educational edible gardens on the grounds of a non-profit organization working with children. To see how edible gardens and salad bars are helping educate and inspire children to learn about nutrition, watch this video.
Rooted in three simple principles – eat a rainbow of colors, eat leafy greens first and eat as close to nature as possible – Whole Kids Foundation offers a variety of resources for parents and children through the organization’s Kids Club, which provides fun and healthy activities, including art projects, books, and recipes to do with kids both at your local Whole Foods Market location or at home.
