Quaker® And Common Threads Cook Up Ways To Help Fuel Healthy Families

Chicago-based Organizations Find Common Ground with Food, Family and Fun

News provided by

Nov 19, 2012, 08:00 ET

CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of the most trusted food companies, The Quaker Oats Company, a division of PepsiCo, is in a unique position to help inspire and enable families to choose nutritious food to help get them going and keep them going throughout their busy days. As part of that mission, Quaker is proud to announce its support of Common Threads, an organization dedicated to educating children about the importance of nutrition and physical well-being and fostering an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking.

These two food-focused organizations both call Chicago their home and also share a common goal of providing nourishing food solutions to local families. Common Threads has developed in-school and after-school programs for elementary school students in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C. designed to take them on a world adventure as they prepare nutritious meals rooted in diverse cultural heritages. Quaker's contributions to Common Threads have funded 25 percent of the classes in the Chicagoland area this fall.

"Quaker is a special brand that has been nourishing families for 135 years, and we will continue to do so through what we call our triangle of health: nourishment, physical activity and education," says Jose Luis Prado, President, Quaker Foods North America. "Common Threads is a perfect partner as an organization that focuses on these same pillars by making food fun, educating students at a young age and instilling healthy habits that can last a lifetime."

With less than one percent of children getting the daily recommended amount of whole grains¹, Quaker is turning to partners like Common Threads to try to improve that statistic by using recipes made with delicious whole grain Quaker Oats during classes. Also as part of its commitment, Quaker's employees are directly engaged with Common Threads by volunteering regularly at classes in Chicago. Plus, Quaker is helping Common Threads reach hundreds of parents with their important message as the sponsor of parent outreach sessions, which equip moms and dads with tools to help plan healthy, convenient and affordable meals for their families.

"Common Threads is extremely appreciative of Quaker's support, not only for the resources they committed to our classes, but also for the deeper relationships Quaker employees are building with our community by volunteering," says Linda Novick O'Keefe, Executive Director of Common Threads. "Through Quaker's commitment, we're able to impact more families than ever, and we look forward to what we can achieve together."

For more information on Quaker products, programs and recipes delivering the powerful benefits of whole grain Quaker Oats, visit www.QuakerOats.com. For additional nourishment news from Quaker, like www.Facebook.com/Quaker and follow www.Twitter.com/Quaker.

¹ U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010.

About The Quaker Oats Company
The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 130 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition. Holding leadership positions in their respective categories, Quaker^® Oats, Quaker^® Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy^® Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more information, please visit www.QuakerOats.com, www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow us on Twitter @Quaker.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

Follow PepsiCo:

About Common Threads
Common Threads reverses the trend of a generation of non-cookers who have been raised on over-processed food. Founded in 2003, their mission is to educate children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, and to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking. Common Threads helps bridge cultural boundaries and strengthen the global family by teaching children about their similarities and differences in the warm comfort of the kitchen. Founders Linda Novick O'Keefe, Chef Art Smith and artist Jesus Salgueiro believe that food access is not only a key indicator of larger social justice issues, but also a common concern with the potential to both strengthen individuals and fortify entire communities.

Common Threads began with one class in Chicago in 2004, and has grown to 40 programs across Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington D.C. Its curricular focus includes after-school, summer camp, parent outreach, and teacher training programs. Learn more about the organization and how you can become involved at www.commonthreads.org.

Contact:
Sara Scharg
Quaker Foods and Snacks
312.821.2427
[email protected]

SOURCE The Quaker Oats Company