Five Grocery Chains Help Produce for Kids Raise Funds for PBS Kid

With the help of five grocery chains, Produce for Kids (PFK), an organization that promotes the benefits of healthy eating and supports worthy causes for children, raised more than $162,000 this fall as part of the "Eat Smart for a Great Start" campaign. The funds benefit PBS Kids, which provides content, resources and tools that aid the positive development of the whole child -- the cognitive, emotional, social and physical.

The five participating retailers -- Publix Super Markets, Meijer, King Soopers, Price Chopper and Giant Food Stores, Inc. of Carlisle, Pa. -- last fall teamed with 25 produce companies to make a monetary donation for specific fresh produce items purchased. All donated funds in support of PBS' efforts to provide educational content, resources and outreach materials that promote healthy eating behavior among kids.

Orlando, Fla.-based PFK also launched its first nationwide classroom contest as part of the program in 2008. The "Play with Your Produce Healthy Challenge" classroom contest yielded more than 100 classroom entries and encouraged elementary students to be healthy by eating fresh produce.

The fall program also featured resources and tools for parents and educators, fun games and activities for kids, and a variety of regional events, as part of the PFK all-inclusive promotional marketing campaign.

"Our fall campaign made healthy eating a central topic of discussion and learning in classrooms and communities nationwide," said PFK president John Shuman.

For more information on Produce for Kids, visit www.produceforkids.org.
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