Love Your Veggies™ Grant Program
The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings are committed to helping educators grow their students’ knowledge of and interest in vegetables at school. The Love Your Veggies™ grant program works to support increased access to, and consumption of, fresh produce during school meals. Now in its fourth year, the grant program will award $10,000 nutrition grants to 10 elementary schools that demonstrate creativity and innovation in their proposed vegetable programs, as well as a financial need. Educators can apply for a grant at www.LoveYourVeggies.com
What is the Love Your Veggies™ school grant program?
The Love Your Veggies™ school grant program is an initiative sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings that will provide $10,000 grants to 10 elementary schools nationwide in the spring of the 2009-10 school year to support increased access to, and consumption of, fresh vegetables and fruits during school meals. The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings have partnered with the School Nutrition Foundation on this important endeavor.
How can my school apply for the grant?
Schools can apply for a $10,000 Love Your Veggies™ grant via an online application at www.LoveYourVeggies.com until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Nov. 6, 2009. Click here to learn more and begin your application process.
When will I learn whether my school will receive a Love Your Veggies™ grant?
Schools will be notified of their award status soon after Feb. 1, 2010, with a target date of no later than Feb. 15, 2010. A public announcement of all ten winners will be made in April 2010. Please do not contact us for updates about whether your school has won prior to February 15 because we will not be able to provide any information until all decisions have been announced.
Why was the Love Your Veggies™ school grant program created?
The Love Your Veggies™ school grant program was created after a study conducted by the University of California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Butte County (California) Cooperative Extension found that children consumed more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing. It was also created as a way to help schools comply with the 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act which required school districts to adopt local school wellness policies to support nutrition and physical activity programs designed to help strengthen and improve overall student health.
How are the 2009-10 grant recipients required to spend their $10,000 grants?
Funding must be spent on any of the following:
What are the criteria for applying?
The following criteria are required for the 2009-2010 school grant program:
Who selects the grant winners?
Applications for the Love Your Veggies™ grant program will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of representatives of Hidden Valley® and the School Nutrition Foundation.
Are schools required to use Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings in their cafeterias as part of the program?
No. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Purchase of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings and products are not required to apply, receive or keep a grant award and a purchase will not increase your chances of begin selected to receive a grant.
About Love Your Veggies™
1 Congress passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which requires that by the first day of the 2006 school year, each school district participating in the National School Lunch Program adopt local school wellness policies with the goal of improving children’s health and reducing childhood obesity by expanding the availability of nutritious meals and snacks to more children in schools while also promoting increased activity. Policies should encourage consumption of healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings are committed to helping educators grow their students’ knowledge of and interest in vegetables at school. The Love Your Veggies™ grant program works to support increased access to, and consumption of, fresh produce during school meals. Now in its fourth year, the grant program will award $10,000 nutrition grants to 10 elementary schools that demonstrate creativity and innovation in their proposed vegetable programs, as well as a financial need. Educators can apply for a grant at www.LoveYourVeggies.comLOVE YOUR VEGGIES™ GRANT PROGRAM FAQ
What is the Love Your Veggies™ school grant program?
The Love Your Veggies™ school grant program is an initiative sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings that will provide $10,000 grants to 10 elementary schools nationwide in the spring of the 2009-10 school year to support increased access to, and consumption of, fresh vegetables and fruits during school meals. The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings have partnered with the School Nutrition Foundation on this important endeavor.
How can my school apply for the grant?
Schools can apply for a $10,000 Love Your Veggies™ grant via an online application at www.LoveYourVeggies.com until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Nov. 6, 2009. Click here to learn more and begin your application process.
When will I learn whether my school will receive a Love Your Veggies™ grant?
Schools will be notified of their award status soon after Feb. 1, 2010, with a target date of no later than Feb. 15, 2010. A public announcement of all ten winners will be made in April 2010. Please do not contact us for updates about whether your school has won prior to February 15 because we will not be able to provide any information until all decisions have been announced.
Why was the Love Your Veggies™ school grant program created?
The Love Your Veggies™ school grant program was created after a study conducted by the University of California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Butte County (California) Cooperative Extension found that children consumed more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing. It was also created as a way to help schools comply with the 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act which required school districts to adopt local school wellness policies to support nutrition and physical activity programs designed to help strengthen and improve overall student health.
How are the 2009-10 grant recipients required to spend their $10,000 grants?
Funding must be spent on any of the following:
- Fresh produce (vegetables and fruits)
- A vegetable station (such as a dedicated salad bar)
- Kitchen equipment (primary usage must relate to proposed program)
- Program staffing (cafeteria personnel, lunchroom staff, etc.)
- Nutrition education supplies
- Food Safety Training
What are the criteria for applying?
The following criteria are required for the 2009-2010 school grant program:
- School must have an approved Local Wellness Policy in place as of July 1, 2006.
- School must be an elementary school serving children within grades K-6. Schools may serve additional grades.
- School representative must fully and accurately complete the Love Your Veggies™ online application, found at www.LoveYourVeggies.com.
- Schools must have approval from principal, school foodservice/nutrition director and district contact (superintendent or communications director).
Who selects the grant winners?
Applications for the Love Your Veggies™ grant program will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of representatives of Hidden Valley® and the School Nutrition Foundation.
Are schools required to use Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings in their cafeterias as part of the program?
No. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Purchase of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings and products are not required to apply, receive or keep a grant award and a purchase will not increase your chances of begin selected to receive a grant.
About Love Your Veggies™
The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings were inspired to create the Love Your Veggies grant program after findings from a 2006 study of two Northern California elementary schools conducted by the University of California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Butte County Cooperative Extension found that children tend to eat more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing. At the same time the results of this study were released, many schools nationwide were working to comply with the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act which required school districts to adopt local school wellness policies to improve students’ overall health and nutrition, and were facing an overwhelming shortage of funds available to execute these programs. To respond to this need, the Love Your Veggies™ grant program was created and has since awarded more than a half a million dollars to elementary schools across the country, helping to affect change in the diets of thousands of children.
About Hidden Valley®
The HV Food Products Company is a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Clorox is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2008 revenues of $5.3 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Green Works™ natural cleaners, Armor All® and STP® auto-care products, Fresh Step® and Scoop Away® cat litter, Kingsford® charcoal, Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces, Brita® water-filtration systems, Glad® bags, wraps and containers, and Burt’s Bees® natural personal care products. With 8,300 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in more than two dozen countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $73.9 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2008 alone, the foundation awarded $4.2 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $10.2 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.
About Produce for Better Health Foundation
Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is a non-profit consumer foundation whose purpose is to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. We partner with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry to expand the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® health initiative which is the largest public-private, fruit and vegetable nutrition education initiative in the U.S.
1 Congress passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which requires that by the first day of the 2006 school year, each school district participating in the National School Lunch Program adopt local school wellness policies with the goal of improving children’s health and reducing childhood obesity by expanding the availability of nutritious meals and snacks to more children in schools while also promoting increased activity. Policies should encourage consumption of healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
2 2006 study of two Northern California elementary schools conducted by the University of California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Butte County Cooperative Extension.
Press Contact
Bridget Starkey/ Current
P: 415-262-5987
E: Bstarkey@talktocurrent.com
Back-to-School Tips
from Jodie Shield
Jeanne Pinsof Nolan
Jodie Shield
Visit the Official Love Your Veggies™ campaign Web site: www.LoveYourVeggies.com.
www.HiddenValley.com