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Contact: Jeff Wolfe (609) 633-2954 or (609) 433-1785 Cell        

E-mail: jeff.wolfe@ag.state.nj.us

Amerigo A. Anastasia School in Long Branch Wins Award

(TRENTON) – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture along with New York Jets linebacker Jordan Jenkins visited Amerigo A. Anastasia School in Long Branch today to honor the school as one of the “Division” Champions for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Jets PLAY 60 “Eat Right, Move More” program. 

The Jets PLAY 60 “Eat Right, Move More” program, a partnership between the Jets, the Department of Agriculture, and the American Dairy Association North East, encourages New Jersey school children to take advantage of healthy foods in their school cafeterias and become more active. 

“The Jets Play 60 Eat Right, Move More program reinforces schools’ efforts to teach children to make healthy choices, whether it is eating more fruits and vegetables or getting more exercise,” said Rose Tricario, NJDA Division of Food and Nutrition Director. “We congratulate Amerigo A. Anastasia School for creating an environment that encourages access to nutritious foods and opportunities to be more active.”

Jenkins visited the school for a fun and educational program and presented the school with a $5,000 grant to improve the school’s food service and physical education programs, made possible by the Jets and the American Dairy Association North East.

“Prioritizing healthy foods and being active is so important for my daily routine to be successful on and off the field,” said Jenkins. “The Jets and the Department of Agriculture have a great program to motivate schools and students to live healthier lifestyles.”

Schools were judged on their outstanding efforts to provide children with fresh produce, healthy foods, nutrition education and opportunities to increase physical activity. They also were required to have at least 100 students participate in the Jets Play 60 Program during which students must log one hour a day of activity for a week.

Amerigo A. Anastasia School offers fresh fruits and/or vegetables with school lunch. Some of their most creative menu items include wraps and bowls, such as butternut lettuce wraps. Their vending machines offer heart healthy snack choices.  In addition, over 100 students participated in and completed the Jets Play 60 portion of the program.

"We are very grateful and honored to be a recipient of the Eat Right, Move More grant," said Principal Francisco Rodriguez. "This award will allow our students the opportunity to engage in a variety of fitness experiences in the physical education class and encourage students and families to adopt healthy lifestyles, both in and out of school."

The school plans to use its prize money for gym equipment (ex. low rock climbing wall) in the gym and to enhance its nutritional programs in the school in order for students and families to learn healthy food habits and ways to monitor those habits for success.

The 2016-2017 Grand Champion is Pace Charter School in Hamilton, which will receive a $15,000 grant and a Jets Program. Two other “Division Champions” are West New York School #2 and Linden High School. They will receive their $5,000 prize and a Jets program later this spring.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture administers the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, special milk and after-school snack, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program. Almost 700,000 children eat lunch at school every day in the Garden State.

About the New York Jets

As a professional football team that plays in New Jersey, the Jets take great pride in a long-standing, year-round commitment to our community. Programs funded by the New York Jets Foundation look to positively influence the lives of young men and women in the tri-state area by promoting fitness, supporting youth football and preventing bullying, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

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 To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial or Twitter @NJDA1 and @JerseyFreshNJDA.