School grant program

maximizes checkoff dollars

Producers' investment in the dairy checkoff is being maximized through their partnership with General Mills Foodservice by offering school grants designed to enhance breakfast programs.

Schools enrolled in the checkoff-funded Fuel Up to Play 60 program are eligible for a "Fuel Up Breakfast Grant" that can be used to create options such as "breakfast in the classroom," "grab 'n' go breakfast from a cart" and "second-chance breakfast after first period."

These innovative efforts are designed to increase consumption of dairy and other nutritious foods.

A total of $50,000 is available to schools for the 2012-13 year. More than $260,000 has been distributed to 100-plus schools through the Fuel Up Breakfast Grant program, now in its fourth year.

Breakfast participation increased 94 percent, according to schools that received grants last year. These schools utilized innovative breakfast options that ensure more dairy is available to students.

"This is another example of a partner making a significant investment that helps extend the checkoff investment and is going against the same goals - getting more dairy offered in schools every day," said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff.

For more information about the checkoff, visit www.dairycheckoff.com.