Healthy Students Brighter Ontario Campaign
Raises over $5M for Student Nutrition
Programs
TORONTO, June 19,
2024 /CNW/ - Breakfast Club of Canada, Student Nutrition Ontario (SNO), The
Schad Foundation and The Arrell Family Foundation are pleased to
announce $3.6M in donations raised
during the 2023-2024 school year for the Healthy Students Brighter
Ontario campaign. The fundraising campaign builds on the Government
of Ontario's commitment to provide
much-needed additional support for the Ontario Student Nutrition
Program and First Nations Student Nutrition Program.
Together with increased contributions from local communities and
municipalities, the Student Nutrition Programs have raised more
than $5 million over the school year.
This meets the goal of community contributions to match the
government of Ontario's additional
$5 million funding for the programs,
marking more than $10 million in
funding this school year.
The Ontario Student Nutrition Program and First Nation Student
Nutrition Program provide nutritious food to students in the
province. The Student Nutrition Program serves more than 600,000
school-aged children and youth with healthy meals and snacks
throughout the school year. The First Nations Student Nutrition
Program provides more than 1.4 million nutritious meals and snacks
to Indigenous children and youth across the province each year.
The campaign saw contributions from a wide range of supporters,
including businesses, charitable foundations and individual donors.
Major donors to the campaign included:
- The Schad Foundation
- The Arrell Family Foundation
- General Mills
- The Sprott Foundation
- The Honourable Mrs. Margaret
McCain
- The Peter Gilgan Foundation
- Maple Leaf Foods
- Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security
- The Grocery Foundation
- SNO Lead Agencies with their communities
"SNO believes that every child has the right to start their
school day nourished and ready to learn and, with the help of our
communities, donors and all levels of government, together we can
make it happen," said Catherine
Parsonage, past Chair, Student Nutrition Ontario.
"Having access to healthy food at school is fundamental to
students' health and learning," said Claire
Kealey Schad of The Schad Foundation. "It is our hope that
this initiative inspires ongoing collaboration and continued
investment in the health and potential of every child in the
province."
"The Club believes in the power of collaboration", said
Judith Barry, Co-founder and
Government Relations Director at Breakfast Club of Canada. "By uniting with governments, the
private sector and all stakeholders, we can ensure every child has
a nutritious meal to support their education and growth."
Student nutrition programs are crucial to the wellbeing of
children and communities in the province, and are committed to
continuing to work to ensure they have the funding they need to
nourish students at school. The federal government's recent
commitment to school nutrition is a welcome step forward, as
Ontario families continue to face
economic challenges. The collective efforts of all stakeholders
will be crucial to ensure the growth and success of student
nutrition programs. All sectors are invited to join in the ongoing
work of building a brighter future for Ontario's children.
For more information about the Ontario Student Nutrition Program
and First Nations Student Nutrition Program, please visit
https://www.ontario.ca/page/student-nutrition-program
Quotes:
"Nutritious food is important to children's health and
well-being, and helps support their academic performance. I am
delighted to see the success of the Healthy Student Brighter
Ontario campaign, which builds on the investments our government is
making to support students through the Student Nutrition Program
and First Nations Student Nutrition Program, " said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community
and Social Services. "We are grateful for the generosity of our
partners, local community members and volunteers who contributed
their time and money to help the next generation succeed."
"Healthy eating is a key component of positive mental health,
which is essential for student achievement and lifelong success,"
said Todd Smith, Minister of
Education. "Our government is investing over $117 million in student mental health supports
for the coming school year – a 577 per cent increase since 2017-18
- and reintroducing modernized home economics education that will
teach students critical life skills such as buying and cooking
nutritious food."
"When students have the proper nutrition they need to focus in
the classroom, they are able to achieve incredible successes
academically and bright futures overall," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development
and Minister of Indigenous Affairs & First Nations Economic
Reconciliation. "Thanks to the generosity of community partners,
the First Nations Student Nutrition Program will continue to
deliver more than 1.4 million nutritious meals and snacks deliver
to First Nations children and youth each year, with support from
the Government of Ontario."
SOURCE Breakfast Club of Canada