I would fully back you up on a healthier-school project! I could squeeze every last dollar out of a $2500 dollar grant to health-ify my school...I am THAT passionate about it.

My school just opened a student store, and I was on the committe to start this business within the school. The plans were sounding great! Open before school, serve breakfast. then open after school and serve bottled water and snacks...but then all anybody wanted to sell was the sugeriest of the sugeriest! It made me SO sick! Energy drinks, and hamburgers alike...call me an annoying health-nut, but where did everyone's idea of what's good for you get scued?

With a $2500 grant, I would go to local grocery stores and ask for help in pursuading my school to get more organics and health oriented foods into the picture...maybe start a petition!
I know not everyone likes organics, but with so many different grocery stores, and with my knowledge of nutritonal health, I'm sure a wide variety of HEALTHIER foods is availible, we just have to take the time.

A great way to use this grant would be to sponsor a Father & Son Sports Day, encouraging fitness and family bonding.

With the cooperation of the city's department of recreation, we could host a weekend event at a Baltimore park. The feature events would include a family walk/run, flag football & passing / field goal competition, 2 on 2 basketball tournament, and free throw contest.

Revenue can be generated by a vendor pavillion for health insurers & providers, city agencies etc. promoting health & wellness. Registration fees would include a 10x10 exhibition space with 8" table. Premium registration would include sponsorship/advertising rights for an additional fee.

The $2500 grant award would be used for promotional materials for the event (posters, flyers etc.) Lead time for the project would be approximately 3-4 months. Estimated attendance would be approx. 400-500, and would require a volunteer staff of 25.

The focus of this event is to promote family commitment to fitness and health, especially during the pre-teen and teen years where those choices become very important.

Jonathan Carter
The Baltimore Renaissance Foundation, Inc.
www.baltimorerenaissance.org

I would put the money back for me and my twin sister to have a little bit of money to go to college in the Fall of 2008.
Some people don't have to worry about paying for college but my mother has two girls going to college in the same year and it's going to be really hard on her to try and help us, so that we can start our lifes

That sounds like a wonderful idea! Many school cafeteria's are funded by the government and so are provided government issue food. With this program, schools would have healthier, fresher options for lunch. Another plus, with fresh organic food, you don't have to worry about processed food or mystery items lurking in the food you eat. I love this idea!

Peace out,

Megan

Make sure you review your school's policy. It may not be allowed to offer food to other students. In middle school a group of friends and I would each bring in something to lunch and have a pot-luck. The much-hated principal at the school disallowed this because of the policy there. I didn't think it was hurting anybody (actually it promoted quite a few wholesome values as well as a sense of community) but I can see that kids attending school may not have enough responsibility to feed others, at least from a safety standpoint. I hope your idea is a success because it sounds like a great plan. Good luck!

I know that where I live, our school is anything but healthy. That plan sounds awesome!

GOOD LUCK!!