Branford Students Have Dinner with a New England Patriot

BRANFORD, CT - This was not your average dinner party.

A group of outstanding Connecticut students, teachers and administrators were recognized last night during a special dinner with New England Patriots layer Duron Harmon and dairy farmer Kristine Desjardins from Plainfield.

The students earned this opportunity, because they completed New England Dairy & Food Council’s “Steps to Greatness” program - a six step process to implementing Fuel Up to Play 60, the nation’s leading school wellness program.

The following schools were represented at the dinner and award ceremony last night at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Cromwell:

· Anna E. Norris Elementary School in East Hartford

· Bridgeport Military Academy in Bridgeport

· Francis Walsh Intermediate School in Branford

“These schools are making wellness a priority, and they deserve to be recognized for their commitment to student health,” said Heidi Harkopf, registered dietitian with New England Dairy & Food Council said in a statement. “The ‘Steps to Greatness’ dinners are just one way we’re able to celebrate schools that are empowering students to lead healthy changes through Fuel Up to Play 60.”

Fuel Up to Play 60 is in nearly 74,000 schools across the country, including more than 1,000 schools in Connecticut. The program encourages students to fuel up with healthy foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy and to be active for at least 60 minutes per day. It was created by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League and is locally implemented by New England Dairy & Food Council and the New England Patriots.

The Fuel Up to Play 60 funding program offers schools up to $4,000 to support a variety of activities including foodservice equipment, nutrition and physical education materials, student and staff incentives, staff development and overall Fuel Up to Play 60 implementation. Funding for this program is provided by the dairy farm families of Connecticut through a partnership between the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board and the New England Dairy & Food Council.

Schools, parents and students can learn more about eligibility requirements, and find the “Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60” application at FuelUpToPlay60.com. There are several application windows each year, including an upcoming deadline on June 15th.