Idaho Dairy Council Awards Funding To Idaho Schools In Support Of Fuel Up To Play 60

Meridian, ID  – Thirty (30) Idaho schools have been chosen to receive funding to support their Fuel Up to Play 60 initiatives, the Idaho Dairy Council announced today. The schools were selected from among hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding to help them jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. The list includes:

    Rigby High School (Jefferson City School District)
    Lincoln Elementary-Rexburg School (Madison School District)
    Madison Middle School (Madison School District)
    Central Elementary (Sugar-Salem School District)
    Swan Valley Elementary (Swan Valley School District)
    Emmett Junior High School (Emmett School District)
    Shadow Butte Elementary School (Emmett School District)
    Christine Donnell School of the Arts (West Ada School District)
    Discovery Elementary (West Ada School District)
    Eagle Middle School (West Ada School District)
    Heritage Middle School (West Ada School District)
    Hunter Elementary (West Ada School District)
    Lake Hazel Elementary (West Ada School District)
    Lowell Scott Middle School (West Ada School District)
    Ponderosa Elementary (West Ada School District)
    Sawtooth Middle School (West Ada School District)
    Siena Elementary (West Ada School District)
    Lakeridge Elementary (Nampa School District)
    Juliaetta Elementary (Kendrick Joint School District)
    Dietrich School (Dietrich School District)
    Hagerman Elementary School (Hagerman School District)
    Summit Elementary School (Jerome School District)
    Kimberly High School (Kimberly School District)
    Acequia Elementary School (Minidoka County School District)
    Richfield School (Richfield School District)
    O’Leary Junior High School (Twin Falls School District)
    Filer Elementary School (Filer School District)
    Filer High School (Filer School District)
    Filer Intermediate School (Filer School District)
    Moscow Middle School (Moscow School District)

This nationwide funding program offers schools up to $4,000 to help them increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. Funding for this competitive program is provided by the Idaho Dairy Council and America’s dairy farmers.
FUTP60 Grant Recipient

Brett Wheeler, Fuel Up To Play 60 Student Champion from Heritage Middle School accepts a check from Idaho Dairy Council Health & Wellness Manager, Jaclyn St. John.

Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 provide support for a variety of activities and tools, such as foodservice materials and equipment, nutrition and physical education materials, student and staff incentives, staff development and overall Fuel Up to Play 60 implementation.

“Our school is excited to be receiving funding from Fuel Up to Play 60 again this year.” Said Jessica Earhardt, FUTP60 Program Advisor at Rigby High School. “The grant has given us the opportunity to incorporate physical activity into our school day with fun, school-wide contests and equipment. The Fuel Up team is always met with cheers when they offer the student body nutrient rich foods for testing or a Grab-And-Go breakfast. The Dairy Council and the NFL have done a fantastic job creating a program that gets, and keeps the whole community involved.” She added.

“Fuel Up To Play 60 and the Idaho Dairy Council have provided invaluable leadership and support for our staff and students by facilitating learning and teaching opportunities that enhance our overall health and wellness.” Said Gary Wheeler, Physical Education and Health Teacher at Heritage Middle School. “The funding has allowed Heritage to build the only on-site staff and student fitness center at any school in Idaho. This facility is  dedicated to the health and wellness of our stakeholders and would not be possible without the IDC. FUTP60 and the IDC are woven into our school culture and are as important to the development of our students as textbooks and computers.”

More than 70,000 schools across the United States are participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Launched by National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils and National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Multiple health organizations and several major corporations are also supporting Fuel Up to Play 60, now in its third year.

“Fuel Up to Play 60 has really taken off in Idaho. Over 400 schools have received the FUTP60 mailing, and wellness champions and students have embraced the program, and these funds will help many of the participating schools to do even more,” said Crystal Wilson, Senior Director of Health and Wellness with the Idaho Dairy Council.

Schools, parents and students can learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 at FuelUpToPlay60.com. Schools can learn more about eligibility requirements, and find the Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 application, at FuelUpToPlay60.com. There are several application windows each year, including the next application deadline on November 5, 2014.

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About Fuel Up to Play 60

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 and include tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website, youth challenges and rewards and funding opportunities. The program is designed to help prevent childhood obesity and help youth develop life-long healthy eating and daily physical activity habits. As part of the program, student teams work with adult leaders in each school to make kid-appealing, good-tasting, nutrient-rich foods more available. They also create opportunities for daily physical activity, such as noon walking clubs and after-school sports and dance clubs. Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages kids to get involved and make changes that will help make their schools healthier places. The program reaches youth directly and engages their help in leading and inspiring their friends. The United States Department of Agriculture, NFL and National Dairy Council are partners in the program, and it is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

National Dairy Council

The National Dairy Council® (NDC) is the nutrition research, education and communications arm of Dairy Management Inc™. On behalf of U.S. dairy farmers, NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC is dedicated to educating the public on the health benefits of consuming milk and milk products throughout a person’s lifespan. For more information, visit www.nationaldairycouncil.org.

About NFL PLAY 60

Designed to help tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations like the National Dairy Council. NFL’s PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL’s in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit www.NFLRush.com. © 2011 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.

Source: National Dairy Council