Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Amway Team Up to Educate Club Members About Healthy Diets and Lifestyles

Growing up my family was lucky enough to have a Boys and Girls Club right in town.  This is where I learned to swim, and learned the meaning of teamwork when playing intramural sports.  I also spent many summers attending their various camps, as did my brothers.  Not only were friendships formed, but my love for physical fitness and the importance of healthy choices was formed.  And, when I went off to college, I pursued a degree in community health education, which led me into schools to discuss the importance of physical fitness, nutrition, etc. 

I can't tell you how many times I would refer back to my childhood and my time at the local Boys and Girls Club, and how this club helped shape me in so many ways.  With that being said, I was excited to hear how the Boys and Girls Club of America was partnering with Amway, to help educate Club members about the importance of healthy diets and lifestyles. The three initiatives they have partnered in are:

        "POSITIVE SPROUTS® Sustainability Grants – Amway is providing $30,000 in Sustainability Grants to ten deserving Boys & Girls Clubs who previously received community gardens from Amway. The funds are designed to assist Clubs with the maintenance of their garden as well as improve nutrition for Club members. For more information on the POSITIVE SPROUTS program, click here: http://www.myclubmylife.com/positivesprouts/Pages/Welcome.aspx

        Garden In A Box Kits – Amway is donating 150 Garden In A Box kits to Boys & Girls Clubs who demonstrated an interest and need for establishing a community gardening program at their Club. The kit includes a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds and supplies Clubs need to get started.

        POSITIVE SPROUTS® Curriculum – Amway is enabling the delivery of a healthy food curriculum to 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide ensuring that all Clubs have access to educational materials promoting healthy eating habits."

I wish we had community gardens when I was growing up.  But, luckily my mother had a green thumb and instilled the love of gardening in my brothers and I.  And, today, I make sure to grow vegetables that will carry me through the summer and winter months.  What I don't eat right from the garden, I can to enjoy and share later with family and friends.  Many people on my holiday gift lists expect to receive homemade jams and salsas each Christmas.  It is nice to see them getting excited about planting a vegetable garden, and doing some canning for a holiday exchange.  With the "Garden in a Box Kits" that Amway is donating to the Boys and Girls Clubs, this will help teach about local farming, gardening and enjoying crops grown from the Earth.  And, hopefully, Club members will take away a love for gardening, and begin to adjust their diets by incorporating fruits and vegetables they grow themselves into their diets. 

I will definitely be checking out our local Boys and Girls Club to see if they will be offering the POSITIVE SPROUTS Curriculum and grants, so that I can share these wonderful opportunities with family and friends.  It is always nice to see partnerships like this, in order to educate youth and families about healthy eating habits.  You go BGCA and Amway!!!!

To learn more about the BGCA and Amway partnership, click here: http://bgca.org/meetourpartners/Pages/Amway.aspx

Don't forget to follow BGCA on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bgca.clubs) and Twitter (@BGCA_Clubs) for news and additional partnerships.

 
 
Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Amway. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.