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For Immediate Release: April 22, 2016
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 610-3526 Cell

(BERKELEY) – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture along with New York Jets linebackers Julian Howsare and Taiwan Jones today visited Clara B. Worth School in Bayville to honor the school as one of the “Division Champions” for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Jets PLAY 60 “Eat Right, Move More” program.

The Jets PLAY 60 “Eat Right, Move More” program, a partnership between the Jets, the Department of Agriculture, and the American Dairy Association North East, encourages New Jersey school children to take advantage of healthy foods in their school cafeterias and become more active. 

“The Jets Play 60 “Eat Right, Move More” program reinforces schools’ efforts to teach children to make healthy choices, whether it is eating more fruits and vegetables or getting more exercise,” said Rose Tricario, NJDA Division of Food and Nutrition Director. “We congratulate Clara B. Worth School for providing an environment that provides children with access to nutritious foods and opportunities to be more active.”

Photo of the check presentation

Howsare and Jones visited the school for a fun and educational program and presented the school with a $5,000 grant to improve school food service and physical education programs, made possible by the Jets and the American Dairy Association North East.

“We had a lot of fun with the kids from Clara B. Worth School today,” said Howsare. “Eating right and staying healthy is key for our success on the field.”

"Eating nutritious meals and maintaining an active lifestyle are essential to my daily routine,” said Jones. “The Jets and the Department of Agriculture have a great program to encourage schools and students to have healthier lifestyle.”

Schools were judged on their outstanding efforts to provide children with fresh produce, healthy foods, nutrition education and opportunities to increase physical activity. They also were required to have at least 100 students participate in the Jets PLAY 60 Program during which students must log one hour a day of activity for a week.

Clara B. Worth School offers fresh fruits and/or vegetables with school lunch. Some of their most creative menu items include wraps and bowls, such as butternut lettuce wraps. Their vending machines offer heart healthy snack choices. The entire fourth-grade class, about 125 students, participated in the Jets PLAY 60 portion of the program.

“We’re very excited and grateful to be a recipient of the Jets PLAY 60 “Eat Right, Move More grant,” said Assistant Principal Cara Burton. “This award will allow our students more variety and fitness in their lives and encourage them to live healthy lifestyles, both in and out of school.”

The school plans to use its prize money to improve their selection of healthy snacks in the cafeteria including air-popped popcorn and encourage students to “move more” by painting a track on their existing bus loop. They also will add a par course throughout the track.

The 2015-2016 Grand Champion is Carlstadt Public School in Carstadt, who will receive a $15,000 grant and Jets Program. Two other “Division Champions” are Belleville High School in Belleville and Jotham W. Wakeman Public School 6 in Jersey City. They will receive their $5,000 prize and Jets program later this spring.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture administers the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, special milk and after-school snack, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program. Almost 700,000 children eat lunch at school every day in the Garden State.

About the New York Jets

As a professional football team that plays in New Jersey, the Jets take great pride in a long-standing, year-round commitment to our community. Programs funded by the New York Jets Foundation look to positively influence the lives of young men and women in the tri-state area by promoting fitness, supporting youth football and preventing bullying, particularly in disadvantaged communities.