75 Michigan schools awarded grants to improve student health by bringing more breakfasts into classrooms

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and United Dairy Industry of Michigan partner to provide a healthier start for Michigan children

News provided by

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Jun 25, 2013, 10:00 ET

LANSING, Mich., June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) announced today that 75 schools throughout Michigan have been awarded grants totaling $250,000 to provide healthy breakfasts in more classrooms. The Building Healthy Communities through Breakfast: First Fuel Breakfast Challenge Grants will help to ensure that over 35,000 children in the state will receive a healthier start to their school day.

"Students who start their day off right with a nutritious breakfast are more prepared to learn and succeed," said Shannon Carney Oleksyk, registered dietitian and healthy living advisor for the Blues' Social Mission. "Overall health and educational performance of children improves with a healthy breakfast, which is why Blue Cross is excited to partner with the United Dairy Industry of Michigan in announcing the recipients of these grants. This program continues our commitment at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to improve the health of children across the state and help them realize their fullest potential."

The grants were awarded statewide, with the goal of increasing the availability of healthy breakfasts served in the classroom, to 40 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 13 high schools, two K-8 schools, seven K-12 schools and one 6-12 school. The selected schools will customize the method of breakfast service to meet individual school needs such as: grab-and-go breakfast, breakfast after first period, breakfast vending machines, delivering breakfast to the classroom or breakfast in the bus loop, to name a few.

"Michigan's dairy farmers congratulate all the schools, food service directors, teachers, staff, parents and supporters who work diligently to help bring nutritious meals to more students at the start of the school day," said Sharon Toth, registered dietitian and UDIM chief executive officer. "A healthy breakfast is a critical first step toward helping children focus in school. No child should be too hungry to think and learn, and that's why United Dairy Industry of Michigan joins Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in applauding all the schools that received this grant."

The grants will also help Michigan schools reach the Michigan Department of Education's First Fuel Breakfast Challenge goal of raising breakfast participation rates to at least 60 percent of its school lunch participation rates. The grant applications were open to public, charter and nonprofit elementary, middle and high schools. The award amounts range from $900 to $9,000 to help schools pay for equipment such as coolers, breakfast carts and kiosks and marketing of each new breakfast program.

Among Michigan schools that provide breakfast, only 42 percent of all students who receive school lunches also receive breakfast – well below the First Fuel Breakfast Challenge goal of 60 percent. Reaching this goal is expected to provide an estimated $22.9 million for the state in federal reimbursement.

Studies show that students who eat breakfast score higher on standardized tests, have better attendance, are less tardy, behave better in class and are less likely to be obese or overweight. Despite the strong evidence about the importance of breakfast to student performance, only 86.7 percent of Michigan schools currently offer breakfast onsite, ranking the state 35^th nationally.

The following is a complete list of the 75 Michigan schools that have received the breakfast grant funding:

Southeast Michigan
- Macomb County
  - Anchor Bay Middle School North, 52805 Ashley Street, New Baltimore
  - Anchor Bay Middle School South, 48650 Sugarbush Road, New Baltimore
  - Elmwood Elementary School, 22700 California Street, St. Clair Shores
  - Lottie M. Schmidt Elementary, 33700 Hooker Road, New Baltimore
  - Sugarbush Elementary School, 48400 Sugarbush Road, New Baltimore
- Oakland County
  - Andersonville Elementary School, 10350 Andersonville Road, Davisburg
  - Baker Middle School, 1291 Torpey Drive, Troy
  - Boulan Park Middle School, 3570 Northfield Parkway, Troy
  - Clear Lake Elementary School, 2085 West Drahner Road, Oxford
  - Community High School, 25421 Alger, Madison Heights
  - Crescent Academy, 17570 West Twelve Mile Road, Southfield
  - Daniel Axford Elementary School, 74 Mechanic Street, Oxford
  - Edison School, 27321 Hampden Street, Madison Heights
  - Halfman Elementary School, 25601 Couzens Avenue, Madison Heights
  - Lakeville Elementary School, 1400 Lakeville Road, Oxford
  - Leonard Elementary School, 335 East Elmwood, Leonard
  - Madison High School, 915 East 11 Mile Road, Madison Heights
  - Oxford High School, 745 North Oxford Road, Oxford
  - Oxford Middle School, 1420 Lakeville Road, Oxford
  - Pontiac Academy of Excellence, 196 Oakland Avenue, Pontiac
  - Smith Middle School, 5835 Donaldson Street, Troy
  - Wilkinson Middle School, 26524 John R Road, Madison Heights
- Wayne County
  - Dodson Elementary School, 205 North Beck Road, Canton
  - HEART Academy, 19800 Anita, Harper Woods
  - Isbister Elementary School, 9300 North Canton Center Road, Plymouth
  - Nolan Elementary-Middle School, 1150 East Lantz Street, Detroit
  - Riverside Middle School, 25900 West Warren Avenue, Dearborn Heights
  - Thorne Elementary, 25251 Annapolis, Dearborn Heights
  - Tonda Elementary School, 46501 Warren Road, Canton
  - West Side Academy, 4701 McKinley, Detroit
Central Michigan
- Eaton County
  - Charlotte Upper Elementary, 1068 Carlisle Highway, Charlotte
  - Dimondale Elementary School, 330 Walnut Street, Dimondale
  - Greyhound Intermediate School, 805 Greyhound Drive, Eaton Rapids
- Genesee County
  - South Bendle Elementary School, 4341 Larkin Drive, Burton
  - West Bendle Elementary School, 4020 Cerdan Drive, Burton
- Ingham County
  - Hope Middle School, 2020 Park Lane, Holt
- Jackson County
  - Ackerson Lake Community Education, 4126 Brooklyn Road, Jackson
  - Ezra Eby Elementary School, 220 West Avenue, Napoleon
  - Napoleon High School, 201 West Avenue, Napoleon
  - Napoleon Middle School, 204 West Avenue, Napoleon
- Lenawee County
  - Ruth McGregor Elementary School, 6850 Sand Creek Highway, Sand Creek
- Livingston County
  - Hartland Round Elementary, 11550 Hibner Road, Hartland
- Midland County
  - Bullock Creek High School, 1420 South Badour Road, Midland
  - Floyd School, 725 South 8 Mile Road, Midland
- St. Clair County
  - Belle River Elementary School, 1601 Chartier Road, Marine City
  - Capac Elementary School, 351 West Kemph Court, Capac
  - Gearing Elementary, 200 North Carney Drive, St. Clair
  - Palms Elementary School, 6101 Palms Road, Fair Haven
  - Pine River Elementary School, 3575 King Road, China
  - St. Clair High School, 2200 Clinton Avenue, St. Clair
  - Theo V. Eddy Elementary School, 301 North 9^th Street, St. Clair
- Tuscola County
  - Highland Pines School, 1381 Cleaver Road, Caro
- Washtenaw County
  - Whitmore Lake Elementary School, 1077 Barker Road, Whitmore Lake
West Michigan
- Branch County
  - Jennings Elementary School, 44 East Liberty Street, Quincy
  - Quincy High School, 18 Colfax Street, Quincy
  - Quincy Middle School, 32 Fulton Street, Quincy
- Calhoun County
  - Marshall Alternative High School, 14055 26 Mile Road, Albion
- Charlevoix County
  - Boyne Falls School, 1662 M75 South, Boyne Falls
- Cheboygan County
  - Cornerstone Christian School, 900 South Western Avenue, Cheboygan
- Kalamazoo County
  - Haverhill Elementary School, 6633 Haverhill Avenue, Portage
  - Youth Advancement Academy, 6750 Chime Street, Kalamazoo
- Kent County
  - Alpine Elementary School, 4730 Baumhoff Avenue Northwest, Comstock Park
  - East Elementary School, 3413 30^th Street Southwest, Grandville
- Manistee County
  - Brethren Middle High School, 4400 North High Bridge Road, Brethren
- Mecosta County
  - Crossroads Charter Academy Elementary School, 215 North State Street, Big Rapids
- Missaukee County
  - Lake City Elementary School, 251 East Russell Street, Lake City
- Montcalm County
  - Grattan Academy, 9481 Jordan Road, Greenville
- Oceana County
  - New Era Elementary School, 2752 Hillcrest Drive, New Era
  - Shelby High School, 641 North State Street, Shelby
  - Shelby Middle School, 525 North State Street, Shelby
  - Thomas Read Elementary School, 155 East 6^th Street, Shelby
- Ottawa County
  - North Holland Elementary School, 11946 New Holland, Holland
  - Pine Creek School, 1184 North 136^th Avenue, Holland
Upper Peninsula
- Chippewa County
  - Turner-Howson Elementary School, 11183 West Turner Howson Road , Rudyard
- Iron County
  - Forest Park School, 801 Forest Parkway, Crystal Falls

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.4 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com.

The United Dairy Industry of Michigan is the umbrella organization for the Dairy Council of Michigan and the American Dairy Association of Michigan. On behalf of funding members, these non-profit organizations provide science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. For more information, visit www.udim.org.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan