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The New England Patriots Foundation and New England Dairy awarded a $10,000 Hometown Grant to Lafayette School in Everett as part of the organizations’ continued commitment to student health. The funds are being used to enhance the school’s wellness environment through the purchase of two new grab and go meal carts to increase access to school breakfast and new physical activity equipment for students.
The school held a Hometown Grant celebration today that kicked off with the arrival of special guests from the New England Patriots Foundation including President Josh Kraft, Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, current Patriots players including Trent Brown, Calvin Munson, Marcus Jones, Chris Board, and Cole Strange, Patriots cheerleaders, and mascot, Pat Patriot.
During the assembly, students heard from a variety of guests including Josh Kraft, Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Senator Sal DiDomenico, EPS Assistant Superintendents Kevin Shaw and Anu Jayanth, Principal David Brady, Massachusetts dairy farmer Ted Dunajski from Dunajski Dairy in Peabody, MA, and New England Dairy Director of Youth Wellness Erin Wholey, RD, LDN. After a question-and-answer session between the students, Patriots players, and dairy farmer, the assembly closed with an energizing performance by the school cheer team. Everett School Committee members Mike Mangan and Mike McLaughlin also attended the festivities.
“Eating healthy and staying active sets students up for long term success in and out of the classroom,” said Kraft. “The New England Patriots are proud to present the Hometown Grant to Lafayette School, so they have the tools necessary to help students succeed each day.”
Following the assembly, a select group of students participated in the Ultimate Recess, a rotation of football skills and drills exercises. The students rotated through engaging team-building and physical activities, led by the New England Patriots players. The excitement was palpable throughout the day’s events.
"Everett Public Schools extends its sincerest thanks to the New England Patriots Foundation and its partners for the tremendous support it has given to the Lafayette School," said Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani. "This initiative has brought great joy to our students and staff, and it will have a lasting and positive impact on the Lafayette community."
“I would like to thank the New England Patriots Foundation for their contributions to the Lafayette school and its students so far this year,” said Mayor DeMaria. “I know that this is just the beginning of a great relationship between the City of Everett and the foundation, and I look forward to more opportunities to work with the Kraft family on building our City and making it even greater.”
Developed by Fuel Up to Play 60 and the National Football League, the Hometown Grant program identifies deserving schools and helps fund their physical activity and healthy eating goals. Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation’s largest in-school wellness program that encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This program is supported regionally by the dairy farm families of Massachusetts and New England.
“As members of the community, dairy farmers are proud to support the success of the next generation,” said dairy farmer Ted Dunajski. “Our partnership with the New England Patriots through Fuel Up to Play 60 allows us to expand our support to ensure youth have access to the nutritious school meals and physical activity they need to thrive.”
New England Dairy and Massachusetts dairy farm families have been supporting local schools for over a century. Dairy farms are the heartbeat of communities throughout New England, creating jobs, investing in the local economy, and supporting childhood health and education.
About New England Dairy: New England Dairy (NED) is a non-profit education organization based in Boston that serves as a voice of dairy farmers in New England and Eastern New York. We champion these dairy farm families and the nutritious foods they produce by connecting people to dairy farms, supporting youth wellness in schools, and delivering the latest nutrition and sustainability science to educators, health professionals, scientists, and media. NED is a state and regional affiliate of the National Dairy Council® (NDC).
About Fuel Up to Play 60 : Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association.
Photos Courtesy of the New England Patriots/Eric J. Adler