Thirty-Five Schools Awarded Fuel Up to Play 60 Grants by Midwest Dairy Council

Thirty-five Des Moines elementary schools have been awarded Fuel Up to Play 60 grants from the Midwest Dairy Council for the upcoming school year. The money will be used to promote physical activity and healthy choices.

The grants total $41,000 and were awarded to these DMPS elementary schools: Brubaker, Capitol View, Carver, Cattell, Cowles, Downtown, Edmunds, Findley, Garton, Greenwood, Hanawalt, Hillis, Howe, Hubbell, Jackson, Jefferson, King, Madison, McKinley, Monroe, Morris, Moulton, Oak Park, Park Avenue, Perkins, Phillips, Pleasant Hill, River Woods, South Union, Stowe, Studebaker, Walnut Street, Willard, Windsor, and Wright.

In addition, Lovejoy and Samuelson elementary schools received Fuel Up to Play 60 grants in 2011.

“The addition of the Fuel Up to Play 60 grants in 35 schools will assist the school district in providing healthy breakfast choices and engaging elementary students in additional physical activity during the school day,” said Mike Zelenovich, district activities director. “The grant money will allow us to purchase much-needed physical fitness equipment to help make exercise enjoyable for students.”

More than 70,000 schools across the United States are participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed 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 also support Fuel Up to Play 60.

“Fuel Up to Play 60 has really taken off in Iowa,” said Chris Freland, Fuel Up to Play 60 Manager for Midwest Dairy Council. “Wellness champions and students in more than 1,100 schools across the state have embraced the program, and these funds will help many of the participating schools do even more.”

Fuel Up to Play 60 funds 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 in an effort to champion school wellness.

Schools, parents and students can learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 at FuelUpToPlay60.com.