Alexandria School Wins $4K By Expanding Breakfast Programs

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Bucknell Elementary in the Fairfax County area of Alexandria is one of 12 schools that will receive a $4,000 grant for increasing participation in school breakfast programs.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Dorothy McAuliffe announced the winners Wednesday afternoon. 1,325 Virginia schools had participated in the contest. Grants can be used for technology, field trips or playground equipment, and the schools will also receive equipment for the breakfast programs.

"Students with proper nutrition are more likely to attend school and perform better on standardized tests, leading to higher high school graduation rates," said Dorothy McAuliffe during the announcement.

The Virginia Breakfast challenge ran from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2016, as part of No Kid Hungry Virginia, a public-private partnership to end childhood hunger launched in 2011. The partnership is an effort by First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, the Virginia departments of Health and Education, and other organizations.

According to No Kid Hungry, about 17 percent of Virginia children face food insecurity. The initiative seeks to expand options beyond breakfast served before classes so more students have access.

From 2015 to 2016, low-income student participation in the school breakfast program increased 4 percent overall in Fairfax County.

Other winning schools include:

• Oscar Smith Middle in Chesapeake City
• Freedom High in Prince William County
• Riverheads Elementary in Augusta County
• Francis Hammond Middle in Alexandria City
• Eastern Montgomery High in Montgomery County
• Waterman Elementary in Harrisonburg City
• Grace Metz Middle in Manassas City
• Langston Focus in Danville City
• Appomattox Primary in Appomattox County
• Edward Wyatt Middle in Greensville County
• Patrick High in Patrick County

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