Walmart gives children an appetite for success

As kids prepare to head back to school this fall, the Walmart foundation is furthering its commitment to increase access to food and nutrition education for children with a whopping donation.

The retailer is making a $10.5 million donation to four national nonprofits implementing school meals programs.

“Thanks to a grant from Action for Healthy Kids, which was made possible through a grant from the Walmart Foundation, we have been able to level the playing field for students like that high school student who used to spend half of her school day with an empty stomach,” said Jessica Shelly, food service director for Cincinnati Public Schools. “We have implemented programs for the 35,000 students in our district to provide universal breakfast in the classroom, have salad bars with fresh fruits and vegetables in our lunch rooms and have vending machines stocked with healthier options in the hallways.”

The grants, supporting long-standing partners, will support 2,320,908 students through programs in more than 530 communities across the country with breakfast in the classroom, nutrition education and access to fresh fruits and vegetables:

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  Action for Healthy Kids: $1.5 million grant to help increase student participation in universal breakfast in the classroom and nutrition education programs in 385 schools.


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  American Association of School Administrators: $2.5 million grant to increase school district implementation of universal breakfast programs, reaching 250,000 children.


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  Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom:$5 million grant to increase participation in universal breakfast in the classroom by 25,000 additional students across seven states.


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  National Farm to School Network: $1.5 million grant to increase the number of school sites implementing farm to school activities, such as school gardens, in three high-need states: Kentucky, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

A video from students can be viewed by clicking here.