Chevy Chase, Maryland – July 6, 2016 – Today, National 4-H Council announced it has been awarded a grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) for $100,000 as part of Target’s ongoing youth wellness efforts.
The grant will engage more than 750 youth and their family members in the greater Chicago area in the 4-H Food Smart Families program. The program aims to empower families through food knowledge and education to build sustainable solutions that confront food insecurity and improve health. Driven by 4-H teen leaders, youth participants will learn to help their peers and families learn about food – how to budget for it, use it, cook it and make choices that contribute toward their health and well-being.
“With more American families struggling with hunger and nearly 16 million children living in households that are food insecure, it’s more important than ever to provide families with tools to help them improve their overall nutrition and health,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council. “The 4-H Food Smart Families program empowers teen leaders to deliver nutrition and food-skills education in their local communities that provide measurable, long-term impact.”
“At Target, we are committed to helping make wellness a way of life for our team members, guests and communities,” said Laysha Ward, chief corporate social responsibility officer, Target. “That’s why we are excited to partner with an impressive array of organizations who are already doing such important work to make an impact in the wellness space. Together, we will help remove barriers to wellness in our communities, working to increase the consumption of nutrient-dense food and physical activity of kids and families across the country.”
The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to help make wellness more affordable, accessible and inspirational for its team members, guests and communities. Target also is partnering closely with local leaders and organizations in communities around the country who are experts in youth wellness and actively working to close the wellness gap for children. These efforts are part of Target’s long history of giving 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million every week.
Launched in 2014, the 4-H Food Smart Families program is now active in 13 states and has engaged more than 400 youth trained to be Teens as Teachers, serving as role models and mentors to influence positive changes in youth behavior. The program has a goal of reaching 250,000 kids and 650,000 family members in high poverty states by 2020.
About 4-H
4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters at the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. The 4-H programs are implemented by the 111 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-h.org.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,792 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.
Contacts
National 4-H Council
Dvon Holland, Director, Integrated Marketing, 301-385-0430
Target Corporation
Jessica Stevens, Communications, (612) 761-6351
Target Media Hotline, (612) 696-3400
