Scroll to the bottom of the story to see a photo gallery of the event.
Matt Bosher, punter for the Atlanta Falcons football team, knows a thing or two about an active lifestyle. And he also knows that he can’t play if he doesn’t fuel up first. That was his message when he brought Fuel Up to Play 60 to Sweetwater MS on Oct. 18. Students at the school had a chance to “play” for 60 minutes in active, NFL-style drills during the event that celebrated a $10,000 Hometown Grant awarded by the Falcons and the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA) to GCPS’ School Nutrition Program.
Developed by the National Football League (NFL) and Fuel Up to Play 60 in 2014, the Hometown Grants support physical activity and nutrition programs in school districts in all 32 NFL markets.
“Every year, the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association and Atlanta Falcons choose a deserving school district in Georgia to receive the grant,” said Sharon Rhodes, SUDIA manager of school health and wellness. “We are thrilled to support the Gwinnett County schools with this grant, which will support more healthy eating opportunities. Well-nourished and physically active kids do better in school, so we are proud to assist in the school district’s efforts.”
The $10,000 grant will be used to enhance healthy eating options in the Berkmar Cluster for students at Berkmar HS, Berkmar MS, Sweetwater MS, Bethesda ES, Corley ES, Hopkins ES, Kanoheda ES, and Minor ES.
“We appreciate both our relationship with SUDIA and the Atlanta Falcons and the receipt of the Hometown Grant,” says Ken Yant, director of GCPS’ School Nutrition Program. “This grant will allow us to support and enhance our school nutrition initiatives within the Berkmar Cluster.”
The National Foundation on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition also joined the partnership, providing the school district with another $10,000 to provide health and PE resources for five schools ($2,000 to each school) to implement the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, the nation’s youth fitness education and assessment program.
The NFL Play 60 program encourages kids 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.
Families can learn more online about how to encourage kids to Fuel Up to Play 60. And, of course, there’s an app for that. Download the free NFL Play 60 app for iPhone or Android, sponsored by the American Heart Association.
Check out this Focus Moment from GCPS TV, as well as a photo gallery with images from the Play 60 event at Sweetwater MS.
Cool Dairy Fact
Did you know? U.S. cows give an average of 6½ gallons of milk per day. That’s more than 100 glasses of milk — enough for 33 students to have three glasses each day!
