DATE: April 6, 2020
WHAT: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dairy MAX, in partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and Fuel Up to Play 60, will contribute $150,000 to the COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund to support local schools with the purchase of resources needed for meal distribution and delivery, as well as protective gear for sanitation and safety. Each school can receive up to $3,000 in grant funds, administered by GENYOUth. Application and additional information can be found at www.dairymax.org.
The COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund will be executed as part of Fuel Up To Play 60 program, which promotes student health and wellness through nutrition education, access to nutrient-rich foods and increased physical activity opportunities.
WHO: Schools impacted by closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dairy MAX, the Dallas Cowboys, GENYOUth and FUTP 60.
WHY: Approximately 7 million kids locally rely on government subsidized school meals for a substantial portion of their daily nutrition, and this necessary nutrition has been impacted by more than 124,000 U.S. public and private school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While federal funding continues to support school feeding programs, additional funding is crucial to provide schools with the necessary resources for food storage, single-serve packaging, distribution, delivery and sanitation/safety protective gear as they adapt to new means of delivering healthy meals to our nation’s children. The COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund has been put in place to help schools meet those additional needs.
“My fellow dairy farmers and I have been committed to feeding kids in schools for decades, and we are committed now more than ever to make sure kids continue to get the nutrition they need,” said Neil Hoff, dairy farmer and Dairy MAX board member.
"We are fortunate to have great partners like the Dallas Cowboys, Dairy MAX and GENYOUth," Arlington ISD superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos said. "Since the start of the school closures over two weeks ago, one of our major priorities has been making sure the students in our district have enough food to eat. We started providing meals the first Monday our schools were closed, and we see around 13,000 children every day. These grants further help schools meet that need in providing nutritious options for all of our students."
Launched in 2009 by the National Dairy Council and National Football league, in partnership with the USDA, FUTP 60 is the nation’s largest in-school wellness program and is supported locally by Dairy MAX and the Dallas Cowboys.
Retired Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Travis Frederick has been a longtime supporter and player representative for Fuel Up To Play 60. “Fighting childhood hunger is core to my Blocking Out Hunger Foundation. Working with FUTP 60 over the past several years, I have been able to help raise awareness for the importance of school meals for so many kids who depend on them. We want to ensure that schools are able to continue feeding kids, even though everything about how they do that has changed, and these grants will help schools make sure their students are fed.”
Applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis and can be accessed at www.dairymax.org. Schools are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
DAIRY MAX CONTACT: Elan Carmichael | Manager, Communications carmichaele@DairyMax.org
