Malt-O-Meal^® is sponsoring National PTA’s^® Healthy Lifestyles Grant Program. The Healthy Lifestyles Program encourages families to make smarter choices and live healthier lives.

The program promotes good nutrition and regular physical activity – both at school and at home, focuses on the connection between student health and student achievement, and encourages families, schools and communities to eat healthy and be active together.

“Children’s physical well-being has a significant effect on their learning and long-term success, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. When children are well-rested, well-nourished, and physically fit they are more ready to learn,” said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, PTA national president “National PTA is committed to building healthy families and healthy communities, and believes we all have an important role to play in making sure parents, schools, and communities have the support and resources they need. That’s why we commend Malt-O-Meal for stepping up and helping us in our efforts.”

Through its sponsorship Malt-O-Meal will provide information and support to local PTA councils to better educate parents, teachers and students on ways to make smarter choices and live healthier lives, which typically starts with breakfast.

“More than 20 million families start their mornings with a breakfast that includes Malt-O-Meal cereal,” says Chris Neugent, president and CEO, Malt-O-Meal. “We’re sponsoring PTA because we believe in their power and ability to educate parents and students about the importance of eating a nutritious and healthy breakfast, staying active and maintaining a healthy planet.”

Through the Healthy Lifestyles program, local PTAs can apply for grants of up to $1,000 in order to support programs that:

• Celebrate PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month and have a long-term impact on students and families
• Promote healthy lifestyles in the home, school and community
• Promote family engagement
• Emphasize the connection between healthy lifestyles and student achievement
• Engage a diverse group of family and community members to participate in physical activity and healthy eating

Past grant recipients have established school gardens, created intramural sports programs and educated parents on how to get involved in the creation and implementation of school wellness policies. Click here for information on this year’s program and how to apply.

Malt-O-Meal company has stepped up to help families in southern states harshly affected by recent severe storms by sending over 400,000 servings of breakfast to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh.

“Malt-O-Meal is a family owned business that is dedicated to feeding families, particularly during this time when so many have lost so much,” says Linda Fisher, consumer marketing manager, Malt-O-Meal. “It is important for families to try and get back into a normal routine, and for many, that includes breakfast. We are just glad that we can help.”

Donations of Malt-O-Meal brand cereal should arrive this week.

About Malt-O-Meal

Founded by John S. Campbell, Malt-O-Meal is the largest family owned cereal company in the U.S. The company has delivered quality cereal products and service since 1919, and manufactures many varieties of oatmeal, family-favorite ready-to-eat and all-natural cereals as well as its original, farina-based hot cereal. Today, one in 10 servings of cereal breakfast eaten every day is a Malt-O-Meal brand cereal. Dedicated to providing families access to better breakfasts at better prices, Malt-O-Meal is continually innovating to produce, package and transport its cereals in ways that reduce environmental impact. For more information about Malt-O-Meal and its cereal products please visit www.Malt-O-Meal.com or www.BagTheBox.com.

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