ORLANDO, FL – This fall, Produce for Kids and DonorsChoose.org are joining forces to support the Produce for Kids Healthy Schools, Healthy Minds campaign, through the funding of local health and nutrition basedclassroom projects in participating retailers’ markets. During the campaign, running September through October in select grocery store chains, shoppers are encouraged to help support local classroom projects by adding more fresh fruit and vegetables to their carts.
DonorsChoose.org is an online charity aimed at helping public school teachers across America obtain the supplies needed for their classrooms. Teachers can submit requests for their classroom projects and individuals can donate directly to the projects that inspire them. DonorsChoose.org then buys and sends the supplies directly to the classroom.
“Teaching children the importance of eating healthy with fresh fruits and vegetables from an early age is crucial in the fight against childhood obesity,” said Kim Avola, vice president, Produce for Kids. “Helping to fund classroom projects that aim to teach kids these important values is what the Healthy Schools, Healthy Minds campaign is all about.”
To date, 230,000 public and charter school teachers have used DonorsChoose.org to secure $117 million in books, art supplies, technology and other resources to enhance student learning. All money raised during the Healthy Schools, Healthy Minds campaign will be used to match donations to classroom projects in each of the participating retailers’ local schools.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Produce for Kids and participating retailers to engage the public to fund classroom projects focused on health and nutrition. Health should start at a young age and what kids are fed and taught at school will effect the way they live the rest of their lives,” said Janelle Lin, Vice President of Partnerships and Business Development for DonorsChoose.org.
In addition to the direct project funding, the fall campaign will also offer teachers the chance to fund their own DonorsChoose.org projects through the Play With Your Produce Classroom Challenge.
Visit the Produce for Kids website for more information about the DonorsChoose.org partnership.
About Produce for Kids
Produce for Kids® encourages healthy eating among families by providing simple, healthy meal solutions and resources for parents, while raising funds for local children’s non-profit organizations. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $3.7 million to benefit kids. To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthy eating, visit www.produceforkids.com, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
About DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post requests, and individuals can give directly to the ones that inspire them. To date, 230,000 public and charter school teachers have usedDonorsChoose.org to secure $117 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn.
Visit www.donorschoose.org/intro to hear Oprah Winfrey and Stephen Colbert tell the DonorsChoose.org story.
Source: Produce for Kids
