Contact: Johanna Elsemore at 202.478.6554 or jelsemore@strength.org
Washington, DC – The national anti-hunger campaign No Kid Hungry has announced five winners of its 2018 Breakfast Hero contest. The new contest was launched during National School Breakfast Week in March to celebrate champions who make school breakfast possible for kids in need. The winners include educators and administrators from school districts across the country who were nominated by members of their local community.
One of the five recipients of the national award is Mary Harryman, Child Nutrition Director for Pasadena Independent School District in Pasadena, Texas. Mary has worked tirelessly to ensure students at Pasadena ISD continue to receive healthy meals following Hurricane Harvey. “Not only has Pasadena worked to provide meals under challenging conditions,” said John Puder of Texas Hunger Initiative. “They’ve expanded alternative breakfast options and after school meal programs.” 1 in every 4 kids in Texas face hunger; 79% of students in Pasadena Independent School District are eligible for free and reduced price meals.
Research shows that hunger has long-term ramifications on children, including lower test scores, weaker attendance rates, and a higher risk of hospitalizations and chronic diseases. No Kid Hungry and its partners focus on school breakfast as a critical way to end childhood hunger.
Accessing traditional cafeteria breakfast service can be challenging for many kids. Breakfast After the Bell provides breakfast in a way that is more convenient and accessible to students, resulting in more kids starting the day ready to learn.
Each winner will receive a prize package from No Kid Hungry, and will be recognized with a banner to be displayed in their school.