Produce for Kids Kicks Off its Get Healthy, Give Hope Campaign

Gearing up for its annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign, Produce for Kids has partnered with 13 supermarket grocery store chains across the country to help raise money for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local children’s charities. The campaign officially kicks off on May 26, 2013, with the support of more than 30 fruit and vegetable growers representing every major category of fresh produce and the 24-hour preschool television network Sprout. The Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign will feature Sprout characters, including Chica from the Sprout original series The Chica Show and Sportacus from the popular healthy lifestyle-focused series LazyTown, on in-store display units and signage in more than 2,000 grocery stores and fresh markets in 27 states and the District of Columbia. From May through August, participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers will make a consumption-based donation to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other children’s charities. The more items from participating vendors that shoppers add to their grocery lists, the more local children’s charities benefit. Shoppers can visit the in-store Produce for Kids display to pick up a list of all participating companies, as well as healthy, easy-to-prepare recipes. In-store materials will point shoppers to www.produceforkids.com for additional information on the campaign, more than 90 easy Ideal Meals recipes and healthy tips from real parents. “We are extremely excited to kick off our 11th annual nationwide Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and local children’s charities,” says John Shuman, president of Produce for Kids. “Since 2002, we have raised more than $4.2 million for children’s charities through our campaigns with the help of our retail partners and produce sponsors, and we are ready for another successful year.” Produce for Kids will promote the campaign through all platforms of social media, and will host various sweepstakes and giveaways on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Produce for Kids will also engage mom bloggers in each participating retail partner’s markets to help spread the healthy eating message. Two Twitter parties will take place during the campaign time period focused on seasonal healthy eating topics. As part of the Produce for Kids and Sprout partnership, LazyTown, and other Sprout characters will interact with kids at Produce for Kids’ in-store appearances encouraging exercise and healthy eating. Sprout will promote the campaign through daily national campaign-focused television spots and web banners on www.SproutOnline.com, which receives more than 1 million visits monthly. “Sprout encourages healthy habits among young children and their families through many of our programs, including The Chica Show, LazyTown and The Good Night Show,” says Sandy Wax, president of Sprout. “Our partnership with Produce for Kids, and the Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign affords us a unique opportunity to expand our efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles for this generation of young kids.” Grocery retail partners participating in the Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign include: Ahold’s GIANT and Martin’s Food Stores, Giant Landover and Stop & Shop divisions; Associated Wholesale Grocers’ Major Savings, Advantage, Independent, Country Mart, Homeland and United divisions; Meijer Stores; Price Chopper and Publix Super Markets.