Inova Supports Community Wellness With School Breakfast Grant

FALLS CHURCH, VA – Inova is pleased to announce it is awarding a $52,500 grant to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to expand its alternative breakfast program at seven elementary schools. This grant will fund the program startup costs for the Title I schools still in-need of the program.

Seven schools will benefit from Inova’s grant, and the first six schools are as follows:

• Bailey’s Upper Elementary School
• Cameron Elementary School
• Forestdale Elementary School
• Garfield Elementary School
• Washington Mill Elementary School
• Woodley Hills Elementary School

This grant is an extension of Inova’s mission to promote wellness throughout the community and the latest initiative to promote healthy habits among local school children. Further, Inova is pleased to stand with Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe in her efforts to expand breakfast after the bell programs at schools in need across the Commonwealth as part of her campaign to address childhood hunger.

The Alternative Breakfast Program addresses the limitations of the traditional model, where students are served breakfast in the cafeteria, before the bell. Due to late buses or social pressures, many kids actually miss out on school breakfast. For the 28% of children in Fairfax County who rely on free or reduced price meals, this can leave them hungry for the first part of the school day. With the alternative model, all children are served breakfast in the classroom, and no child goes hungry.

“Many people do not realize that hunger exists in Fairfax County,” said Knox Singleton, CEO of Inova Health System. “Not only are hungry children unable to concentrate and learn, but they are also at increased risk for health problems such as asthma and obesity. Providing this grant to help all kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast is just one of the ways we support children in need in our community. I want to commend First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe for her passionate efforts to ensure no child goes hungry no matter where they live.”

Inova’s grant will fund the program’s startup costs, covering items such as trash cans, place mats, gloves, refrigerator, cleaning supplies, and breakfast bags. Federal reimbursement will fund the ongoing costs of the program.

Hunger can significantly affect the health of children.  Research shows that children who experience hunger are more likely to have chronic health problems.  Hunger can lead to behavioral problems, low energy, and poor concentration. Skipping breakfast also has been associated with higher levels of obesity.

As part of Inova’s strategy to reduce obesity among underserved children, the Inova Healthy Plate Club partners with elementary schools to teach kids about healthy eating and cooking. Inova also provides grants to local farmers markets to help double the purchasing power of SNAP (formerly food stamps) shoppers. And, the Inova Cares Clinic for Children provides primary pediatric care for low-income children.

“Inova is committed to promoting children’s health and wellness and ending childhood hunger through education, nutrition, and removing the barriers to accessing healthy foods. Our contribution to the alternative breakfast program is just one way we are helping the children in our community,” Singleton added. “The Healthy Plate Club, SNAP Double Dollars, Northern Virginia Healthy Kids Coalition and the InovaCares for Children Clinics are all dedicated to improving the health of children throughout the region.”

Fairfax County Public Schools will kick off its summer feeding program on Wednesday, June 28, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School in Alexandria.  Inova CEO Knox Singleton will announce the health system’s contribution to the breakfast program, and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe will speak about No Kid Hungry.

Media Contact: Tracy Connell, 703-289-2087, tracy.connell@inova.org

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About Inova
Inova is a global leader in personalized health, which leverages precision medicine together with more patient-centric services to predict, prevent and treat disease, enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. At Inova, we serve more than 2 million people each year from throughout the Washington, DC, metro area and beyond.

We are shaping the future of health through our integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes.  Our commitment to health and wellness is further reflected in our sustainable practices. Inova is home to world-class researchers, expert medical specialists and renowned scientists, who are driving innovation to improve patient care, prevent disease and promote wellness. For more information, visit inova.org, or find Inova on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.