FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | January 9, 2020
Contact: Jessica Ng | jng@mercuryllc.com
Sacramento, CA (January 9, 2020) – No Kid Hungry California, a campaign of the national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength, today issued the following statement applauding California Governor Gavin Newsom for his proposal to increase funding for school nutrition programs in the 2020-21 state budget:
“Nutrition powers student success. Governor Newsom’s proposal to increase funding for school nutrition programs is a critical next step in the fight to end childhood hunger,” said No Kid Hungry California State Director Kathy Saile. “Since he took office last year, Governor Newsom has pursued a comprehensive approach to supporting California’s kids, and school nutrition programs like Breakfast After the Bell are a critically important way to ensure more kids can start the school day with a healthy meal. We look forward to continuing to work with his Administration and the Legislature to help fuel kids so they can succeed in school and beyond.”
More than 1 in 5 children in California live in families that struggle with hunger. Research shows that hunger has long-term academic and health-related ramifications on children, including lower test scores, weaker attendance rates, and a higher risk of hospitalizations and chronic diseases. To help combat this problem, the 2019-20 state budget included $500,000 to fund Breakfast After the Bell Expansion Grants. No Kid Hungry California also provided more than $700,000 in grants to nearly 100 schools that are implementing or expanding their breakfast programs in the 2019-2020 school year. Making breakfast part of the school day is more convenient and accessible to students, resulting in increased student participation. When students start their day with a healthy breakfast, principals and teachers report that they attend more days of school per year, score higher on tests and are more likely to graduate high school.