Schools

Open Door Earns $30k Grant From Dannon

Open Door Medical Center was awarded Dannon's Next Generation Nutrition grant for the second year in a row.

Most people know Dannon for its tasty yogurt, but the company strives to be "good corporate citizens" by funding nutrition programs aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

With a facility here in Westchester County, one way the company gives back to the local community is through grants. For the second year in a row, the company's "Next Generation Nutrition" grant was awarded to in Port Chester.

This year, Dannon awarded $30,000 to Open Door for the medical center's "Fit for Life" program, which is "tailored to curb the alarming recent trend in children’s health." Citing data from the state health department which shows a three-fold increase in obesity among kids and teenagers in New York, the company praised Open Door's efforts to educate kids and families on nutrition, exercise and all-around healthy lifestyles.

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The grant doesn't come easily -- its corporate sponsors wanted to see results, and Open Door provided data showing its programs were reaching local children and their families, while changing the way they eat.

According to Dannon:

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"Last year, more than 2,275 students participated in Open Door’s Fit for Life program in conjunction with the Port Chester/Rye Union Free School District. Open Door reported that nearly 80% of students who participated in the Fit for Life program demonstrated an increase in their knowledge of recommended health behaviors in areas such as nutrition and physical activity. Additionally, Open Door reported that, of the 1,600 students whose Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured during their participation in the program, more than half showed some reduction in their BMI. Based on the number of children impacted by this program and the opportunity to impact more children in the coming school year, The Dannon Company is proud to be continuing its support of the Fit for Life program."

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