Kashi Recognizes Nine Successful Junior League Programs for Promoting Nutrition

NEW YORK - June 18, 2014 - PRLog -- New York – The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc (http://www.ajli.org/). today announced that Kashi (http://www.kashi.com/), the premier natural food and lifestyle company, has again honored individual Junior Leagues for the work they do in their local communities to meaningfully address the multi-faceted issue of healthy eating and nutrition among children. The grants to nine Leagues, ranging from $1,500 to $3,500, were made at AJLI’s 92^nd Annual Conference, held recently in St. Louis, MO.

Said AJLI President Ellen Rose, “Thanks to Kashi’s extraordinary generosity over the past two years, we have been able to fund the development of Phase 2 of our Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen (http://kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org/) program and distribute more than $130,000 to support the work that individual Leagues are doing in their local communities to support healthy lifestyles of young people through hands-on nutrition and life skills education.”

The 2014 grants were made to:

·         The Junior League of Wilmington (North Carolina) for the expansion of its Kids in the Kitchen program, which has become a year-long initiative with multiple events and programs to provide healthy food and nutritional information for the inner city of Wilmington. ($1,500)

·         The Junior League of Cedar Rapids (Iowa) for its Bridging the G.A.P. (Guide, Advocate, Provide) program, which provides suitcases with items necessary to live independently for newly emancipated foster youth. The program works in tandem with JLCR’s AMP (Achieving Maximum Potential), a program that empowers young adults by supporting the development of life skills. ($2,500)

·         The Junior League of Central & North Brevard (Florida) for its Kids in the Kitchen: Classroom Edition program, which provides elementary teachers with health and wellness materials targeted for K-3^rd grade children. ($2,500)

·         The Junior League of Dallas for its Kids in the Kitchen program featuring the theme “Super Foods + Super Fitness = Super Kids,” which incorporates federal nutrition guidelines through an eight-week course that teaches children how to prepare easy, nutritious meals, work safely in the kitchen, and incorporate exercise into their daily lives. ($2,500)

The Junior League of Long Beach (California) for its Kids in the Kitchen program. Now in its 10^th year, the initiative includes a popular and widely respected healthy eating and exercise fair, as well as an after-school food and nutrition component. The program works to help reduce the incidence of childhood obesity by providing education, demonstrations, and practical resources to at-risk children and their families. ($2,500)


The Junior League of Chattanooga (Tennessee) for its Seeds of Change program, a collaborative effort with several community partners to eliminate “food deserts” in Hamilton County through advocacy and educational outreach. ($3,000)

The Junior League of Charlotte (North Carolina) for its Kids in the Kitchen program, which teaches and demonstrates the importance of healthy eating and nutritional knowledge. The program supports the Healthy Family Initiative, which is focused on the physical, dental and mental health needs of children in the Charlotte community and their families. ($3,500)

The New York Junior League for its Cooking and Health Education for Families (CHEF) program, which works with community partners to educate low-income families in the most vulnerable areas of New York City about the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity. The workshop series includes healthy cooking tutorials, physical activity and positive decision-making. ($3,500)

The Junior League of Tulsa (Oklahoma) for its Kids in the Kitchen family cooking classes. Conducted for seven years through a partnership with Global Gardens and the Westside Harvest Market, a not-for profit grocery store located in a low-income neighborhood with little access to fresh foods, JLT hopes to expand the current program and add a second site. ($3,500)

About The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer, Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, creating demonstrable community impact.

Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (http://www.ajli.org/) (AJLI) is comprised of more than 155,000 women in 293 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, they constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world.