1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MediaContact:
MelissaBattite,CPRP
Brookline RecreationDepartment
6177302069
mbattite@brooklinema.gov
Brookline Receives $27K Grant to Support Local Out-of-School
Time Programs
Brookline,MA,April 4,2016 – Brookline Recreation inpartnershipwiththe National RecreationandPark
Association(NRPA),hasreceiveda$27K grant to supportits out-of-school time healthyfoodaccess and
nutritional literacyprograms. The giftispart of a $2.5 million grantNRPA received fromthe Walmart
Foundation tosupportout-of-school time programsin 80 parkand recreationagencies.The purpose of
the grant is to:
 Increase the numberof healthymealschildreninlow-income communitiesreceivethroughthe
SummerFoodService Program(SFSP) andthe ChildandAdultCare FoodProgram(CACFP)
duringout-of-schooltimes;
 Provide evidence-based,age-appropriate nutritionliteracytochildrenthatcreate behavior
change by teachingthe importance of healthyeating;
 Implementnutritionandphysicalactivitystandardsthatincrease accesstohealthierfoodsand
increase opportunitiesforphysical activity;and
 Promote meal andprogram efficienciesthatwill reduce costs,maximizeexistingresources,
decrease foodwaste,andleadtomore sustainable meal programs.
Brookline Recreation’sgrantwill helpincrease accesstohealthyfoodsandimprove opportunitiesfor
physical activity. BrooklineRecreationwillalsoreceive additionalsupportformeals provided through
USDA afterschool andsummerfeedingprograms aswell asnutritional literacymaterialstohelpensure
life-longhealthyhabitsforBrookline’syouth.
Thisgrant supports NRPA’scampaign—CommittoHealth—whichencouragesthe implementation and
evaluationof HealthyEating,Physical Activity(HEPA) standardsinparkand recreationsitesacrossthe
country.NRPA’sgoal isto have at least2,000 participatingsitesinfiveyears. Withinthe firsttwo-years
of the program,991 siteshave pledgedtoCommittoHealthand over108,000 childrennow have
improvedaccesstohealthyfoodsandincreasedopportunitiesforphysicalactivity.

2. Accordingto Share our Strength’sNoKidHungry Campaign,one infive childreninAmericastruggles
withhunger. Over21 millionlow-incomechildrenreceive free orreducedmealsduringthe school year
to helpthemmeettheirdailynutritionneeds,butonly3millionof these children are gettingthese
mealsduringthe summer. Duringsummermonths, these childrenmaynothave accesstoquality and
healthy foodtohelpthemgrow—makingBrookline Recreation’sworkduringout-of-school timesthat
much more critical.
“Thanksto a successful twoyearswithCommittoHealthandthe Walmart Foundation, over108,000
childrennowhave improvedaccesstohealthyfoodsandphysical activity,”saidBarbaraTulipane,
PresidentandCEOof NPRA.“Parks andrecreationare provingtheircritical role inthe health of their
communitiesandwe can’twaitto see the impactthisyear’sgrantswill have onfosteringlife-long
healthyhabitsinchildrenacrossthe country.”
“Receivingthisgrantfromthe NRPA andWalmart Foundationwill allow usto bothenhance ourcurrent
servicesandalsocreate and implementnew ones,all of whichhave the abilityto significantlyimpact
hundredsof Brookline families. Brookline’s school aged population continues to climb, and that
has challenged our agency to provide quality services to and increasing number of needy
families. The National Recreation and Park Association and Walmart Foundation 2016 Out of
School Time Programs Grant is an opportunity for Brookline Recreation to continue the work
that we have started, to enhance services to our existing families, and to provide for new
members of our community.” - Lisa Paradis, CPRP, Director of Recreation, Brookline, MA
Brookline Recreationstrivestoenhance the qualityof lifethroughenrichingexperiences,whichsupport
the Brookline Communityindevelopingandmaintaininghealthylifestyles.
About National Recreation and Park Association
The National RecreationandParkAssociation isanational not-for-profitorganizationdedicatedto
advancingpark,recreationand conservationeffortsthatenhance qualityof lifeforall people.Through
itsnetworkof more than 50,000 recreationandpark professionalsandcitizens,NRPA encouragesthe
promotionof healthylifestyles,conservationinitiativesandequitable accessto parksand publicspace.
For more information,visit www.NRPA.org. Fordigital accesstoNRPA’sflagshippublication, Parks&
Recreation,visitwww.parksandrecreation.org.
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