Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the District of Columbia received grant awards and special recognition from Walmart, USDA and other partners for the DC Free Summer Meals Program.

EOM Contact: Linda Wharton Boyd,(202) 727-5011
EOM Contact: Ziky Ababiya, (202) 727-5011
DPR Contact: John Stokes, (202) 288-7275

WASHINGTON, DC – Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the District of Columbia received grant awards and special recognition from Walmart, USDA and other partners for the DC Free Summer Meals Program. He was joined by representatives from the federal and local government; private and community based organizations; and District children, youth and parents, to promote the adoption of healthy and active lifestyles for all residents. Walmart announced the granting of $665,00 to assist DC to expand summer nutrition, health education and employment services for elementary, middle and high school students throughout the summer months. DC was also honored as #1 in the nation for feeding children during the summer.

The event today focused on the “Be Healthy This Summer” aspect of Mayor Gray’s One City Summer Fun… Something for Everyone program. This integrated approach to a safe, productive, healthy, creative summer season, provides something of interest for everyone in every ward across the city. The comprehensive program is a major initiative of his “safe communities” agenda.

“The best thing we can do to address the challenges children and families that our community struggle with is to work together,” said Mayor Vincent Gray. “That means everyone from individuals to businesses in our area must come together to help our children succeed. I am pleased that Walmart has lent their support to Washington DC With Walmart’s support, DC’s young people will have better summers.”

The Free Summer Meals Program will provide thousands of children and youth access to nutritious summer meals. The program is available for children and youth up to age 18 and will be at over 300 locations, including recreation centers, churches, libraries and community based organizations. The program is assisted by grants made possible by Walmart, General Mills and other partners.

According to the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), the primary reason for the achievement gap between higher- and lower-income youth is unequal access to summer learning opportunities and critical needs like healthy meals. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s summer giving grants to the District will assist in the three key areas:

• Providing healthy meals to approximately 26,900 school-age children in our area.
• Helping 120 local youth enroll in summer learning programs that will better prepare them to return to school.
• Providing jobs and skills training to 180 teens.

Walmart Foundation Senior Director, Michelle Gillard, stressed the company’s commitment to children this summer, saying, “This program is so important to children, families and communities facing tough times. Walmart is striving to make a difference with this grant, which will help organizations like Higher Achievement, the Urban Alliance and DC Parks and Recreation expand programs that give local kids access to healthy meals, learning opportunities, and summer jobs while school is out.”

In addition to the Free Summer Meals Program, the DC Department of Health promoted the benefits of healthy lifestyles through its Live Well DC! Campaign. The campaign seeks to educate the public and increase public awareness of the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. It aims to encourage those who live, work and play in the District to live longer, more productive lives by following 10 Healthy Living Tips: Move More, Eat Healthy, Don’t Smoke, Love Responsibly, Reduce Stress, See your Doctor, Wash Your Hands, Be Prepared, Make Peace and Read More. Children and adults participated in a 10 minute “Instant Recess” exercise before the youth were served Free Summer Meals.

To find out more about summer activities, programs and services offered in the District through the One City Summer Fun...Something for Everyone program, visit onecitysummer.dc.gov.

To find additional information on the summer programs that Walmart is supporting and learn more about how Walmart is bringing its commitment to hunger relief to life this summer, visit www.walmart.com/fightinghunger.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the US The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.