Today, Broward County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services, GENYOUth and the Dairy Council of Florida introduced a Grab- N-Go breakfast cart and hosted a breakfast celebration with students and staff at Fort Lauderdale High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The ceremony unveiled a new Fuel Up to Play 60(GENYOUth’s signature school wellness program co-developed by the NFL and the National Dairy Council) grab-n-go cart to increase access to a healthy breakfast. In support of Fuel Up to Play 60’s 10th anniversary and the NFL’s 100thAnniversary, GENYOUth’s grab-n-go breakfast cart systems will tackle food insecurity by increasing access to school breakfast among those who need it most. Approximately 850,000 or 1 in 5 Florida children, come from food insecure households.
Through this initiative, GENYOUth, with the support of public and private funders, plans to provide 100 schools in South Florida school districts, including Broward County Public Schools, with Grab-n-Go breakfast cart systems. The Grab-n-Go cart systems consist of a hot and cold mobile kiosk, point of sale system and milk cooler. This equipment will help increase access to nearly 10 million meals among Florida youth in just the first year of use. As part of this initiative, Fort Lauderdale High School is the first to be awarded a Fuel Up to Play 60 branded Grab-N-Go breakfast cart to support the development of healthy, high-achieving students by increasing access to healthy and nutritious school meals.
"We are so grateful to have the support of the school districts in South Florida, including Broward County Schools, as we embark on this important goal of fueling greatness among Florida’s youth in celebration of the NFL’s 100thAnniversary and our very own Fuel Up to Play 60’s 10th Anniversary. This initiative will enhance a school's ability to serve and meet every student’s nutrition needs,” says GENYOUth Chief Executive Officer, Alexis Glick. “The grab-n-go breakfast carts help increase access to a healthy, nutritious meal by moving it out of the cafeteria, at any time of the day, not just breakfast, thereby providing the critical nutrition that supports students’ success inside the classroom and out.”
“At Broward County Public Schools, we are thrilled to offer innovative programs like Second Chance Breakfast, which will allow more students to take advantage of our universal free breakfast every day. Students who eat breakfast have been shown to have better academic achievement. By partnering with GENYOUth we are able to expand opportunities for our students to have a healthy breakfast which is in line with our goals to support student achievement and academic success,” said Mr. Maurice L. Woods, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer, Broward County Public Schools.
About GENYOUth
GENYOUth is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that empowers students to create a healthier future for themselves and their peers by convening a network of private and public partners to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that bolster healthy, high-achieving students, schools and communities nationwide. We believe that all students are change-agents, who deserve the opportunity to identify and lead innovative solutions that positively impact nutrition, physical activity, and student success. GENYOUth has had Fuel Up to Play 60 and Adventure Capital programs in over 73,000 schools, reaching over 38 million students in nearly 10 years of operation. For more information about GENYOUth, visit www.genyouthnow.org.
About Dairy Council of Florida
The Dairy Council of Florida works with schools, health professionals, social service agencies and others to educate Floridians on the health benefits of milk and other nutrient-rich dairy foods. Dairy Council of Florida programs are funded by Florida Dairy Farmers, which represents more than 100 dairy farming families throughout the state. For more information, call 800-516-4443 or visit www.floridamilk.com/in-the-schools.
About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), founded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program 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. As a result of the program, 14 million students are making better food choices by selecting nutritious options like low-fat and fat-free dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Additionally, 18 million students are getting more physically active during the school day as a result of the program.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student contests. VisitFuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.
About Broward County Schools
“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.”
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has more than 271,500 students and approximately 175,000 adult students in 234 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 88 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 204 different countries and 191 different languages. Connect with BCPS: visit the website at browardschools.com, follow BCPS on Twitter @browardschools and Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools, and download the free BCPS mobile app.
