Eagles & Patriots Fuel Up to Play 60 Hometown Grant Schools Make a Healthy Wager on the Big Game

BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the week leading up to Super Bowl LII, the American Dairy Association North East and the New England Dairy & Food Council announce the two schools have challenged each other to a little "healthy competition" in the first ever Fuel Up to Play 60 Hometown Grant Super Bowl Challenge. On Wednesday, Hometown Grant-awarded schools Edwin M. Stanton Elementary School in Philadelphia and Elizabeth Baldwin Elementary School in Pawtucket playfully shared video taunts cheering on their home teams. They also agreed to a wager.

If the Patriots win, Edwin M. Stanton Elementary will send Elizabeth Baldwin Elementary a "Breakfast of Champions" package featuring a local Philadelphia dairy product. If the Eagles win, Pawtucket will send a similar package featuring their ever-popular coffee milk drink, local to the Rhode Island region.

Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) is a student-led, national in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL) in collaboration with the USDA. Hometown Grants were awarded through the FUTP 60 program in an ongoing partnership between the NFL and the local dairy councils associated with the NDC this past school year in all 32 NFL clubs. For the first time, the National Foundation on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition are also partnering with the NFL and the local New England Dairy & Food Council and the American Dairy Association North East  with the Hometown Grants in their respective regions.

In 2017, Hometown Grants for $10,000 were awarded to schools in Philadelphia, PA and Pawtucket, RI, respectively. Hometown Grants has supplied more than $300,000 to schools participating in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program nationwide to help optimize schools' healthy eating and physical activity efforts.

 "We are using the [Hometown Grant] money for a playground makeover and to help increase participation in school breakfast.  We're excited to cheer on the New England Patriots this weekend and are confident they are going to bring home a big win!" Said Matt Bergeron, the Headmaster at Elizabeth Baldwin Elementary.

In Philadelphia, the grant was used to purchase a new milk cooler for increased breakfast participation, and physical activity equipment for the students. Their school is so confident their home team will win, they did not hesitate to agree to the wager. "Hey, Baldwin Elementary School...Fly Eagles, Fly!!"

Schools nationwide can take advantage of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program to increase wellness by signing up at www.fueluptoplay60.com.

About NFL PLAY 60
Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and wellness with partner organizations. PLAY 60 also is implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. Since the program was launched in 2007, the NFL has committed more than $325 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for public service announcements. The NFL and its teams have built more than 200 NFL Youth Fitness Zones and integrated programs into more than 73,000 schools nationwide since the campaign launched. All 32 clubs activate PLAY 60 locally, with more than 2,000 NFL PLAY 60 events held annually. For more information, visit NFLRUSH.com.

© 2018 National Dairy Council. Fuel Up® is a service mark of the National Dairy Council.

SOURCE American Dairy Association North East