:: 2010 Blessings in a Backpack
CHARITY GOLF OUTING & FASHION EVENT BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK
A charity golf outing hosted by PGA golfer Justin Rose and his wife Kate held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on June 8 raised more than $160,000 in its inaugural year, benefitting a national feeding program called Blessings in a Backpack.
Each Friday, elementary school students who are part of the federal government's free and reduced meal plan will be sent home with a backpack full of easy-to-prepare food items to sustain them through the weekend.
"As an athlete and a father, I know how important it is to be properly nourished," said Justin Rose."It only costs $80 to feed a child for all 38 weekends of the school year, so this is our first little step to making an impact."
Golf icon Sir Nick Faldo auctioned off Rose and his friend, fellow PGA golfer and Lake Nona resident Henrik Stenson to the two foursomes willing to bid top dollar to play with the pro golfers in the charity tournament.
"Children who participate in Blessings in a Backpack show marked improvement in school attendance, test scores, behavior and health," said Lino Rodriguez, principal at Grand Avenue Primary Learning Center, among the first schools in the area to adopt the Blessings in a Backpack initiative. "When parents and children tell you how grateful they are for food, it's a very moving experience."
Blessings in a Backpack helps meet the nutritional needs of our country's children on the weekends, ultimately impacting their educational success. Launched in July 2005 with two public schools in its pilot program, Blessings in a Backpack now serves 20,000+ elementary school students throughout 19 states. Every Friday, students receive backpacks with staples that require little to no preparation and return to school on Mondays properly nourished and ready to learn. Children in the program show better test scores and reading skills, improved behavior and increased attendance. For more information, visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org.
