Schools and PTAs Across the Country Awarded Grants to Support School Meal Improvements

Alexandria, Va. — National PTA is pleased to award over $60,000 in grants to schools and PTAs across the country to help improve the quality of, access to and participation in school meals. The grants are part of the association’s ongoing efforts to ensure all children have a safe and healthy environment in which to thrive and learn.

“Healthy students make better learners, and school meals are an opportunity for children to receive more than half of their daily nutrient needs. Ensuring children have access to nutritious foods in schools is critical to their success,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “We are pleased to equip PTAs and schools nationwide with the necessary resources to support and advocate for stronger school meal programs.”

Twenty-five local PTAs have been selected to receive grants of $2,000 each to partner with their school leaders, food service team and families to help schools build on the progress they have made in serving students healthier meals. The following state PTAs also have been chosen to receive grants of $5,000 each.

  • Minnesota PTA will collaborate with state leaders to develop a communications campaign to educate families about the importance of healthy school meals.
  • Nevada PTA will use the grant to increase the number of schools in the state that provide free breakfast and lunch to all students.
  • South Carolina PTA will partner with state leaders to design a statewide campaign to increase awareness among students and families of school meals.

“PTA leaders, members and families play an important role in helping schools implement improved meal and snack offerings,” added Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “At the national, state and local levels, PTA is committed to ensuring families are engaged and families and schools collaborate to strengthen programs that make a difference for the health, well-being and long-term success of our nation’s children.”

The Healthy School Meals grants are funded in part by the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, a collaboration between The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“PTAs helped launch the National School Lunch Program 70 years ago, and their support remains key to success in student nutrition,” said Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project. “The partnerships these grantees are forming with food service leaders — and the results they’ll achieve together — will inspire and inform greater engagement between the schools and the families they serve in communities nationwide.”

In addition to awarding the grants, National PTA has released a School Meals Leader’s Guide to help PTAs, school leaders, food service professionals and families partner on school meal improvements efforts. To learn more, visit www.pta.org.

Featured

  • University of Connecticut Upgrades Basketball Facility’s AV Systems

    The University of Connecticut recently partnered with Metinteractive to upgrade the AV systems of the Gampel Pavilion basketball facility on its campus in Mansfield, Conn., according to a news release.

  • Texas A&M Adds ALPR Technology to Parking Solutions

    Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently integrated automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology into its parking services and enforcement strategies, according to a news release. The university’s Transportation Services division deployed Genetec AutoVu ALPR to manage the campus’ 36,000+ parking spaces.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2025 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is now accepting entries for the 2025 New Product Awards! The program’s goal is to honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products and services are particularly noteworthy in helping to improve K–12 and Higher Education learning environments.

  • Illinois Elementary School Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

    Heather Hill Elementary School, part of Flossmoor School District 161 in Palatine, Ill., recently broke ground on a new addition to the school focused on student support and security, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers for the expansion as part of a longer-term facility planning and modernization initiative.

Digital Edition