Press Release – CHICAGO – June 28, 2016 – Today, Common Threads, a national non-profit, announced it has been awarded a grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) for $350,000 as part of Target’s ongoing youth wellness efforts.
“At Target, we are committed to helping make wellness a way of life for our team members, customers and communities,” said Laysha Ward, chief corporate social responsibility officer, Target. “That’s why we are excited to partner with Common Threads who is already doing such important work to make an impact in the wellness space. Together, we will help remove barriers to wellness in our communities, working to increase the consumption of nutrient-dense food and physical activity for kids and families across the country.”
Common Threads’ hands-on cooking and nutrition education provide a preventative health program solution for fostering a school wide culture of health. By working systemically in the schools and the community, the organization works to inspire children, families and teachers in underserved communities to make healthy behavior changes and increase their confidence in the kitchen. With Target’s support, the organization will expand programming in Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City in the 2016-2017 school year.
“We’re thrilled to see Target elevating the conversation around health and well-being and are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them to be able to deepen our impact. Districts, schools and community centers rely on joyful and affirmative programming like ours to make wellness goals a reality,” said Linda Novick O’Keefe, chief executive officer, Common Threads. “The ROI is real and it is meaningful. We are not only educating students about the importance of taking care of their bodies, but we’re also creating lifelong habits for stronger communities and a healthier society.”
The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to help make wellness more affordable and accessible while inspiring families to choose healthier lifestyles. Target is partnering closely with local leaders, youth wellness experts and organizations in communities around the country to close the wellness gap for children. These efforts are part of Target’s long history of giving five percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million every week.
About Common Threads
Founded by Celebrity Chef Art Smith, artist Jesus Salgueiro and Linda Novick O’Keefe in 2003, Common Threads educates children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, empowering them to be change agents in their families, schools and communities across the country. By providing children with a toolkit of knowledge and skills, Common Threads’ programs help prevent childhood obesity and reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers, getting America’s kids cooking for life! To learn more, visit commonthreads.org.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,792 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.
