[NEWARK, N.J. (March 11, 2022)] On Thursday, March 10th at 9:00 am, the Newark School of Global Studies unveiled a new Grab-n-Go breakfast cart, courtesy of GENYOUth, a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating healthier school communities. The breakfast cart, which includes a milk cooler and cooler bags, is being funded by PRWeek through GENYOUth's "End Student Hunger Fund" in partnership with the American Dairy Association North East (ADANE). The unveiling is celebrated as part of National School Breakfast Week with an appearance from New York Giants wide receiver, Darius Slayton in the school's cafeteria located at 24 Crane Street, Newark, NJ.
"In Newark, we understand the importance of our students’ well-being and the link between health and academic performance, along with the importance of a healthy school environment" stated Superintendent Roger León. "We thank GENYOUth, PRWeek and ADANE for their generous donation that helps us expand our school breakfast offerings, and provides more students access to healthy food options and more opportunities to fuel their minds for learning."
GENYOUth has been combatting food insecurity within schools through their Grab-n-Go breakfast cart program since 2017. Through their breakfast cart, they provide an alternative meal delivery model that drives greater student engagement by addressing the challenges hindering participation. These include lack of time, convenience, and the stigma associated with school breakfast in the cafeteria. Currently, there are over 500 GENYOUth-funded meal carts in American public schools, which have helped to increase average daily participation by as much as 27% and to expand access to 50 million school meal opportunities.
"Grab and go breakfast carts help ensure that a nutritious start to the day is available for all students," said Dawn Haynes, President of the Newark Board of Education. "We couldn't be any more grateful to GENYOUth, PRWeek and American Dairy Association North East for their generous donation of new school meal equipment to the Newark School of Global Studies."
The statistics surrounding food insecurity for children in Newark and New Jersey overall underscore the need for a concerted effort to ensure meals are easily and readily accessible. One in five New Jersey children live in poverty, and in Newark Public Schools, students of color represent 91.6%, with 80.4% of students qualifying for free and reduced meals based on household income.
"Nationally, one in six children lives in food insecurity, and in school districts serving a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic students such as Newark, the number is closer to one in three. Schools are anchors of community nutrition, and we need to support them and provide the equipment they need to increase access and grow participation in the school meal program." said registered dietitian Ann Marie Krautheim, President and Chief Wellness Officer of GENYOUth. "We cannot end student hunger without the support of committed partners, and I want to thank PRWeek for their generous donation of a new school breakfast cart and other much needed equipment, as well as American Dairy Association North East and the dairy farmer community for stepping up to tackle hunger."
Students of Global Studies, the captains of the district's high school football teams, their coaches representing Barringer, Central, East Side, Malcolm X Shabazz, Weequahic, West Side High Schools, and members of the audience, participated in early-morning warm-up exercises in anticipation of the unveiling; the morning was off to a great start. "I am proud to be a part of this community initiative in Newark," said New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton. "As a professional football player, I am passionate about the role nutrition plays in shaping healthy lives, both on and off the field. So, I proudly support programs that make it easier for students to get a healthy breakfast and be more active, ultimately allowing them to reach their full potential."
"Purposeful communication and purposeful business is one of the biggest agenda points for the brands and businesses that PRWeek covers, and we'll be digging deep into these issues at our annual PRDecoded conference in Chicago on October 11-12. But, as well as covering purpose as an issue, it's important for PRWeek to walk the walk too - and we are delighted to support GENYOUth's excellent work in helping young people and combating food insecurity," said Steve Barrett, VP, editorial director, PRWeek & Campaign.
Newark Public Schools in alignment with the Newark Board of Education graciously receives the donation provided from GENYOUth and PRWeek with the help of Mr. Slayton. As we continue to promote healthy living to our students and implement invaluable knowledge to assist them in living full lives, this is just a small but momentous step forward.
About Newark Board of Education
The Newark Public School District is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The racial and ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students. For more information visit https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/.
About GENYOUth
GENYOUth is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that creates healthier school communities. We convene a network of private and public partners, including Fortune 100 companies and foundations, to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that give youth the inspiration, motivation, and programs to be healthy high-achieving students. GENYOUth’s flagship program, Fuel Up to Play 60, enrolls over 73,000 U.S. schools, reaching over 38 million students. Our school nutrition grants increase access to healthy school meals among food insecure students. NFL FLAG-In-School is GENYOUth’s fastest growing program with over 25,000+ school communities reaching over 15 million students. AdVenture Capital brings out the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of students with the support of corporate mentors to solve real world problems. And starting in 2021, GENYOUth has been the official charitable partner of Taste of the NFL, a purpose-driven Super Bowl culinary experience which raises awareness and generates funds to fight hunger and food insecurity. For more information on GENYOUth, visit www.genyouthnow.org.
About American Dairy Association North East (ADANE)
American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council® and the regional consolidation of three promotion organizations including the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. Committed to nutrition education and research-based communications, ADANE provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Funded by dairy checkoff dollars from nearly 10,000 dairy farm families in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and northern Virginia, ADANE works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the North East region.
About PRWeek
PRWeek epitomizes the modern business publishing brand, spanning online, print, events, and social media, incorporating a paid-for content strategy and gated website. Launched in November 1998, it is the essential title for PR pros. PRWeek reflects an industry playing a more pivotal role than ever, not only in the marketing strategies of companies, brands, and organizations, but also within boardrooms and in the C-suite. In the transparent world epitomized by social media, corporate reputation is crucial. Executives need timely, authoritative, insightful content to navigate this landscape — that's where PRWeek comes in. Breaking news, analysis, and opinion fuels PRWeek's content. And the brand extends into the iconic PRWeek Awards, annual conferences, roundtables, webcasts, and virtual forums. For more, visit prweek.com.
Additional Media Coverage: