Feed Tomorrow 2014 Media Release

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TO ALL ASSIGNMENT EDITORS/EDUCATION EDITORS

For Immediate Release

Feed Tomorrow Week: Students And Celebrity Chefs Raising Awareness About Child Hunger

TORONTO, October 6, 2014 – One out of three children in Toronto lives in poverty, and more than 160,000 students rely on breakfast, snack, or lunch in one of more than 700 school-based nutrition programs to make it through the day. The Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS), the independent charity of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), will be hosting a week of events dedicated to feeding Toronto’s hungry students and nourishing hungry minds. Joining TFSS for these great events will be Celebrity Chefs Sang Kim and Brad Long, as well as other VIPs.

The City of Toronto has proclaimed October 6 – 10 as the 10th annual Feed Tomorrow week, five days that will see student volunteers, educators, TFSS supporters, politicians, and public figures raising awareness and collecting pledges to help feed Toronto’s hungry students. During this week communities across Toronto will come together in support of our children.

“It’s simple – hungry kids can’t learn” said Alice Eastman, Chair of TFSS. “There are young people coming to school who have eaten nothing the evening before. We need the support of the Toronto community to be able to provide much needed nutrition programs for the students who need them.”

• Monday, October 6th – Kick off with Sang Kim, 2:00–3:00 p.m. Wind Up Bird Café (382 College Street)
  Celebrity Chef Sang Kim will host Meeting of the Minds at Wind Up Bird Café. Exec. Chef Yumiko Kobayashi will work with students to prepare menu items designed and inspired by children. Sang Kim will speak about his personal experience with hunger and will be joined by Sick Kids Clinical Researcher in Paediatrics, Dr. Lee Ford-Jones, as well as staff and students impacted by nutrition programs in their schools.

• Tuesday, October 7th and Wednesday, October 8th – TTC Take Over Days, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
  Hundreds of enthusiastic secondary student volunteers will occupy Toronto subway stations during the evening rush hours (4-6pm) to inform commuters about student hunger and fill donation tins for nutrition and food related programs. Media opportunities are available at Queen’s Park Station.

• Wednesday, October 8th – Olympic Athlete Mark McKoy, 8:00–9:00 a.m. Whole Foods (4771 Yonge Street)
  The Whole Foods grocery store at Yonge and Sheppard will be hosting Breakfast With An Olympian with Gold Medal Olympic athlete Mark McKoy who will be speaking about the link between healthy food and healthy bodies. Students and parents will also be attending. As well, Whole Foods will be donating 5% of the proceeds of their sales for the day to support nutrition and food related programs.

• Thursday, October 9th – Nutrition Program Bus Tour followed by a VIP Reception and Sushi Making Workshop, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. St. Lawrence Market, 92 Front Street East
  A group of VIPs will travel on school buses, student style, to Nelson Mandela Public School and Sprucecourt Public School where they will see nutrition programs in action. They will meet with community volunteers and children and learn first-hand about the need these programs address. At 11:00 a.m. a VIP Reception takes place at the St. Lawrence Market Kitchen where cheque presentations and announcements will be made. Following the reception, at 11:45 a.m. a Sushi Making for the Soul workshop will be presented by Celebrity Chef and food literacy activist, Sang Kim, assisted by students.

• Thursday, October 9th – ACE Bakery Student Snack Down Event, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Carleton Village Jr. and Sr. Public School, 315 Osler Street
  ACE Bakery staff will deliver 6-foot long baguettes to 16 Junior Chefs’ Programs in schools across the city. They will work with students and nutrition staff to prepare amazing creations that will be eaten during snack time. This event is part of ACE Bakery’s employee fundraising drive in support of beyond 3:30 — an after-school initiative that includes nutrition. Carleton Village Junior and Senior Public School (315 Osler Street) is “Snack Down Central”.

• Friday, October 10th – Wrap Up With Rice Event, 10:15-11:30 a.m. President’s Choice Cooking School located at the Loblaws® store at Maple Leaf Gardens*
  High School students in the TDSB’s Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Tourism Program will roll up their sleeves and compete in a culinary contest for a chance to win some “dough” for their school’s nutrition program and some bragging rights for their class. A panel of judges, including Rita Demontis, National Food Editor for SUN Media and Celebrity Chef, Brad Long will select the winning dish.

“Feed Tomorrow is a significant event and we all need to be involved,” said TFSS Executive Director, Catherine Parsonage. “It provides an opportunity for all of us to get out in our communities and help raise awareness for child hunger.”

With the support of students, educators, local communities, and businesses, Feed Tomorrow brings us “one step closer” to making sure that no child starts the school day hungry.

*Reg’d TM. Lic’d use.

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