Aspen Community News

ASPEN, Colo.— Children's Health Foundation, an Aspen-based non-profit dedicated to improving nutrition in schools, announces the receipt of a $525,079 grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, which will directly support two new projects: the Lunch Money program and curriculum development of a Junior Chef Program. The grant is Children's Health Foundation's largest award to-date, further emphasizing the importance of the organization's work throughout Colorado.
 
"The Colorado Health Foundation is the strong partner we need in order to continue making positive change in schools, " says Children's Health Foundation Executive Director Mardell Burkholder. "Their support enables us to carry out our vision and address changes in food culture with programs designed to engage the individual student, cooking personnel and administration on a much higher level."
 
Funds from the generous 19-month award will assist in establishing Lunch Money, a program which navigates the financial implications for school administrators interested in replacing processed convenience foods offered in their school meal programs with healthier cooked-from-scratch meals. Lunch Money is geared toward school district CFO's, superintendents, and school food service personnel who are interested in changing school lunch, but are concerned with the financial feasibility of the program.
 
A portion of the grant will also aid in the development of curriculum for one of Children's Health Foundation's most popular programs, the Junior Chef Program. Establishing a new curriculum ensures the program's expansion to more schools across the state. The Junior Chef Program engages students as young as six years old to participate in a cooking event, contributing to the preparation of a healthy meals.
 
Prior grant awards from the Colorado Health Foundation have supported healthy nutrition in schools and the Lunch for Life Program, which continues to expand in the state of Colorado.