Student Health and Wellness at the Forefront During NFL Draft Week

GREEN BAY, Wis. (April 22, 2024) – GENYOUth, the national non-profit organization founded by America’s dairy farmers and the NFL to ensure schoolchildren thrive by living well-nourished and physically active lives, joined Valley View Elementary School, purpose-driven partners, and NFL legends today for a student rally and celebration of community impact initiatives to help tackle student food insecurity and increase opportunities for physical activity. Through its first-ever Taste of the Draft philanthropic culinary event, held Wednesday, April 23, in Green Bay, GENYOUth is raising critical funds for school nutrition equipment grants and NFL FLAG-In-School kits for 90 Wisconsin schools, in honor of this week’s 90^th anniversary of the NFL Draft.

This morning’s event, featuring special appearances by NFL Legend Bobby Taylor, Ashwaubenon School District Superintendent Kurt Weyers, and other local VIPs, ignited excitement at Valley View Elementary. With 250 energized students in attendance, the End Student Hunger assembly kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new, state-of-the-art school meal equipment. The excitement continued as the event transitioned to an NFL FLAG-In-School Kit Unboxing and Flag Football Clinic, where Bobby Taylor, alongside NFL officials, demonstrated their incredible Flag Football skills. They inspired students, emphasizing how school meals and physical education not only strengthen bodies but also empower minds, making a lasting impact on the future of our youth.

Every school participating in GENYOUth’s school nutrition grants program will receive a comprehensive package of essential equipment and resources designed to transform access to healthy foods and dairy. This includes Grab and Go meal carts, insulated milk merchandisers or crate bags, smoothie cart kits, and additional resources, empowering students to make nourishing choices that support their health and success. These resources are designed to overcome hurdles of time and stigma, and get the meals to where students are – whether in the hallway, classroom, or cafeteria – fueling them with the nourishment they need to thrive. Each school will also receive an NFL FLAG-In-School kit, providing students with fun, inclusive opportunities to stay active through flag football and supporting lifelong habits of physical activity.

Taste of the Draft nutrition grants are made possible through the commitment of presenting sponsor Schreiber Foods and premier sponsor American Family Insurance, along with the Ron and Dana Dunford Family Foundation, the Michael and Leanne Haddad Family Foundation, Jack and Engrid Meng, the Richard J. Resch Foundation Ltd., the Tom Lutsey Family Foundation, Tyson Foods, Domino’s Smart Slice, Festival Foods, Bergstrom Automotive Group of Green Bay, and Green Bay Packers Give Back. Taste of the Draft nutrition grants will help increase access to approximately 13 million school meals annually, benefiting 50,000 students throughout Wisconsin.

“One in six children in Wisconsin faces food insecurity, and fewer than one in four children nationwide get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. These aren’t just numbers; they represent real children, falling behind, right now. But the solutions are within our reach, and they start in our schools – schools that have the power to close the gaps in nutrition and physical activity,” said Ann Marie Krautheim, M.A., R.D., L.D., CEO of GENYOUth. “I’m deeply grateful to our purpose-driven partners who are supporting school programs that provide the resources and equipment needed to ensure every child has access to healthy meals and physical activity. Together, we can build a future where all children have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.”

“We are excited to host today’s celebration in our school district,” said Ashwaubenon School District Superintendent Kurt Weyers. “When the community comes together on behalf of our children, we remove barriers and ensure they get the nutrition and physical activity they need so they can remain healthy and focused to succeed academically and beyond. Thanks to GENYOUth and purpose-driven organizations for their continued commitment to our students’ health and well-being.”

“We are proud to be participating in today’s school event, as it is here at schools like Valley View Elementary where we can collectively have the greatest impact in developing our youth and strengthening our communities. Thank you to GENYOUth, Taste of the Draft presenting sponsor Schreiber Foods, and other partners for making a positive difference in the health and well-being of Wisconsin youth,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy.

Added Ron Dunford, President and Chief Executive Officer, Schreiber Foods, Inc., “Schreiber Foods is honored and excited to support GENYOUth’s efforts to end student hunger at Valley View Elementary and schools throughout the state. Our commitment to Doing Good Through Food is a call-to-action that will ring through the halls of 90 Wisconsin schools, extending our company’s 80-year legacy of meaningful community impact.”

“As a former professional football player and someone who has spent much of his career around athletics, I see first-hand the critical role school nutrition and physical activity plays in the lives of students. Our physical, mental, and emotional well-being are so intertwined. By helping ensure students have access to school meals and physical activity programs, we can empower them to be their best selves,” said Green Bay Packers Legend Rob Davis.

“NFL FLAG-In-School’s commitment is to make sports inclusive, enjoyable, and accessible to all. I am honored to be here with GENYOUth and partners today helping make flag football available to students and encouraging a love of sport among boys and girls,” echoed Bobby Taylor, NFL Legend, and Global Flag Football Ambassador.

Taste of the Draft is building upon GENYOUth’s legacy of giving back to the Wisconsin community. To date, GENYOUth, in collaboration with the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, has awarded school nutrition grants to more than 500 schools in Wisconsin with a combined enrollment of 250,000 students, providing students with increased access to 35 million meals each year. Physical activity grants have also been awarded to over 650 Wisconsin schools.

Tickets for Taste of the Draft are available at tasteofthenfl.com/taste-of-the-draft-2025/.

To learn more about NFL FLAG-In-School, visit https://flag.genyouthnow.org/.

To help GENYOUth end student hunger, visit https://genyouthnow.org/donate/.

About GENYOUth

GENYOUth is a 501c3 national nonprofit dedicated to helping school children thrive by living a well-nourished and physically active life. A catalyst for youth health and wellness, GENYOUth has supported over 77,000 U.S. schools to equip them with the resources needed to ensure millions of children have equitable access to nutrition and physical activity. Founded by America’s dairy farmers and the NFL, GENYOUth convenes a network of private and public partners, including Fortune 100 companies and foundations to ensure all children are nourished and active to be their best selves. With a commitment to end student hunger, GENYOUth provides nutrition grants to increase access to healthy school meals among food insecure students. GENYOUth is the official charitable partner of Taste of the NFL, a purpose-driven Super Bowl culinary experience that raises awareness and generates funds to fight hunger and food insecurity to support the organization’s commitment to end student hunger. To learn more and support GENYOUth visit www.GENYOUthnow.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Schreiber Foods

Schreiber Foods strives to do good through food every day. Based in North America, Schreiber is a customer-brand leader in cream cheese, natural cheese, process cheese, beverages, and yogurt. Its more than 10,000 employees and presence on five continents enable the company to be an essential ingredient in its customers’ success.

With annual sales of more than $7 billion, Schreiber partners with the best retailers, restaurants, distributors and food manufacturers around the globe. Schreiber also recognizes its responsibility to do good in the world and is driven to make a difference in everything it does.

About Ashwaubenon School District  

The Ashwaubenon School District, located in the village of Ashwaubenon within the Green Bay metropolitan area of Wisconsin, is a public school district committed to providing a comprehensive educational program for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district aims to meet the diverse needs of its students through varied instruction that caters to different abilities, interests, and learning styles. Beyond academics, Ashwaubenon emphasizes the importance of well-rounded development by offering a wide array of co-curricular activities. The district operates several schools, including Cormier Early Childhood Center, Pioneer and Valley View Elementary Schools, Parkview Middle School, and Ashwaubenon High School, all working towards fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment for their student population of over 3,000 students.

About The NFL Foundation

The National Football League Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation and its members, the 32 NFL clubs, support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.

About NFL FLAG

NFL FLAG is an NFL-licensed property of more than 1,800 locally operated leagues and over 585,000 youth athletes across all 50 states. NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program available for girls and boys ages 5-17. Players benefit by being physically active through non-contact, continuous action while learning the fundamentals of football as well as lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship. RCX Sports is the official operator of NFL FLAG.

Media Contact: 

Eric Slutsky, GENYOUth, eric.slutsky@genyouthnow.org, 917-391-6709
Jennifer Layden, Ashwaubenon School District,  jlayden@ashwaubenonk12.org, 920-615-1516
Katie Hermsen, Green Bay Packers, hermsenk@packers.com, 920-569-7218 (for Taste of the Draft)
Avis Roper, NFL, Avis.Roper@nfl.com, 212-450-2520 (for NFL FLAG-In-School)