The Dannon Company Rallies Parents To Help Promote Physical Activity In Schools

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – After a successful 2011 launch, the Dannon® “Rally for Recess” initiative is back in full swing encouraging parents and schools to “rally” their community and give kids the chance for more outdoor fun. By collecting Danimals® and Dan-o-ninoTM package codes and entering them online at www.RallyForRecess.com, five lucky schools across the continental United States will win a $30,000 playground makeover. In addition, three lucky individuals will win Playtime at Home prizes worth $1,000 each.

Experts agree that physical activity, including time spent playing outside, is a critical component of healthy childhood development and can help kids develop emotionally and physically.

A recent 2012 report from the Institute of Medicine revealed that one out of every three children is obese or overweight and recommends that children get at least an hour of exercise a day– a challenging goal at a time when few schools offer physical education across all grades daily or even a few times a week.1

“Dannon launched Rally for Recess to help promote physical activity in schools. We saw in our first year how providing playground makeovers to schools could make a difference, and we are thrilled to continue this initiative this year,” says Michael Neuwirth Senior Director of Public Relations for The Dannon Company, Inc.

Last year, five schools – Gator Run Elementary School in Weston, Florida; J.F. Kennedy Memorial in Franklin, MA; Cashell Elementary in Rockville, MD; Spicewood Elementary in Austin, TX and Pine Island Montessori in Davie, FL. – successfully rallied their communities, and were the lucky recipients of Rally for Recess grants to upgrade their school playgrounds.

“It’s so important for children to stay active, especially at school when the majority of the day is spent sitting in a classroom. The current recommendation is for children to engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.i It has been further recommended by experts that half of the amount of physical activity take place at school, including at recess.2 ” says Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, a pediatrician, child obesity expert and author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right.

Now through December 31, 2012, Dannon Rally for Recess invites community members across America to collect codes on specially marked packages of Danimals Smoothies and Dan-o-nino and enter these codes online so their school can compete for a chance to win one of the five playground makeovers. Alternatively, consumers can choose to enter their codes for a chance to win one of the three Playtime at Home prizes.

For more information on Rally for Recess, including Official Rules and how you can help your kids enjoy a more active lifestyle, visit RallyforRecess.com or Facebook.com/Danimals.

About Danimals Benefits

Danimals, an on-the-go lowfat or nonfat yogurt or smoothie, gives moms an easy, fun and nutritious choice for kids. It contains a good source of calcium to help build strong bones and both Danimals Crush Cup™ and Danimals Double Crush Cup™ contain a good source of protein which is essential in helping kids grow strong muscles and maintain healthy skeletal systems. The nutrition benefits of Danimals are:
• A good source of Calcium
• No artificial colors or flavors
• No high fructose corn syrup

In addition, Danimals Smoothies, Crush CupTM, Double Crush CupTM, and CrunchersTM are a good source of Vitamin D.

Moms can choose between Danimals Smoothies, Crush Cup, Double Crush Cup, Crunchers, and Coolision®, which come in a variety of tasty and fruity flavors. Danimals are found in the dairy aisle of grocery stores nationwide.

About Dan-o-nino’s Benefits

Did you know that 90% of bone strength is developed before adulthood†? You want to make sure your kids get enough calcium. Dan-o-nino is power packed* with essential nutrients to help little ones grow up healthy and strong when consumed as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Dan-o-nino products contain:
• Dan-o-nino 1.76oz Dairy Snack: ounce per ounce, 2x the amount of calcium of leading kids yogurts*
• Dan-o-nino Dairy Drinks: ounce per ounce, 2x the amount of calcium of milk*
• Protein*
• Vitamin D†*
• No artificial colors or flavors
• No high fructose corn syrup

†* Consume as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Dan-o-nino Dairy Snack contains 81% DV protein and 30% DV Vitamin D per 8oz (225g). Contains 19% DV protein and 6% DV Vitamin D per 1.76oz. (50g) cup. Contains 1g of saturated fat per 1.76oz (50g) cup. Ounce per ounce, Dan-o-nino Dairy Snack contains twice the amount (10% more of the DV) of calcium of leading kids yogurts. Contains 10% more of the DV of calcium (80mg) than leading kids yogurts. Dan-o-nino 20% DV (155mg) of calcium; Leading kids yogurts 8% DV (70mg) of calcium per 1.76 oz. Dan-o-nino Dairy Drink contains 13% DV protein and 20% DV Vitamin D per 3.1 fl oz. Ounce per ounce, Dan-o-nino Dairy Drink contains twice the amount (15% more of the DV) (120mg) of calcium of Milk. Dan-o-nino Drink: 230mg (30%DV) of calcium per 3.1 fl oz. Average Milk: 105 mg (15%DV) of calcium per 3.1 fl oz.

Dan-o-nino products are available as both a cup and drink in a variety of enjoyable flavors and are found in the dairy aisle of grocery stores nationwide.

About The Dannon Company, Inc.

Headquartered in White Plains, New York, Dannon has plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, West Jordan, UT, and Portland, OR, which make more than 200 different flavors, styles and sizes of cultured refrigerated and frozen dairy products to serve its retail and foodservice customers. Dannon brings health through food to as many people as possible via its diverse offering of delicious and wholesome fresh and frozen yogurts. Dannon is a subsidiary of Danone, and Dannon is the top-selling brand of yogurt worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone. Dannon’s commitment to health is also illustrated through the support of the Dannon Institute, a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting research, education, and communication about the links between nutrition, diet and health.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MANY WILL PARTICIPATE, ONLY 3 ENTRANTS AND 5 SCHOOLS WILL WIN A PRIZE. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous U.S. /D.C., who are 2 years of age or older. Void in AK, HI, PR and where prohibited by law. For eligible children, first ask your parents for permission to enter and then go to www.rallyforrecess.com. Begins at 12:00:00 a.m. EDT on 8/1/12 & ends at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on 12/31/12 or when all Code supplies have been exhausted, whichever occurs first. Participants have until 1/31/13 to enter codes. See inside specially-marked packages of DANNON® Danimals® or Dan-o-nino™ products for codes. To obtain a free code, hand print your date of birth, name and email address on a 3”x5” card & mail in an envelope with proper postage to: DANNON Danimals Rally for Recess Code Request, PO Box 760017 El Paso, TX 88576-0017, postmarked by 12/31/12 and received by 1/9/13. Codes must be entered no later than 11:59:59 p.m. on 1/31/13. Subject to full Official Rules, at www.rallyforrecess.com. Sponsor: The Dannon Company, Inc.

1 "Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation." Institute of Medicine (2012). Http://www.iom.edu. 8 May 2012. Last Accessed August 1, 2012.

2 "Building ‘Generation Play’: Addressing the Crisis of Inactivity Among America's Children." Stanford Prevention Research Center Stanford University School of Medicine. (2007): Print.

Source: The Dannon Company, Inc.