Press Release

ATLANTA, GA - Jan. 2, 2019 – Boys & Girls Clubs of America has announced a $500,000 grant from The Walmart Foundation to provide greater healthy lifestyles education to Native American kids and teens across the country. This is the third year The Walmart Foundation has supported this effort.

Most U.S. youth do not meet the recommended health guidelines, which is especially true for American Indian and Alaska Native youth. Research reveals that 23 percent of Native youth do not have adequate access to food – nearly twice the rate of our nation’s general population. The rate of obesity among Native youth is about 50 percent, and the incidence of type-2 diabetes among Native youth is nearly 3 times the national average, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

We are so thankful that the Walmart Foundation is continuing to help us provide health and wellness programs to our tribal communities,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Native youth face unique challenges like having access to healthy foods, but with Walmart’s support, more Native youth will have access, leading to a healthier lifestyle in the future.”

Through this partnership, 25 Clubs on Native lands will be given resources to create a healthy Club environment and trained to deliver nutrition education that will equip Native kids and teens with skills and information they need to eat healthy. Youth at these Clubs will learn about food selection and preparation within a cultural context, focusing on traditional foods that are indigenous to the community like corn, berries, beans, fish and elk. The program is additionally designed to engage the tribal community through social events, like potluck dinners for which Club members can prepare healthy dishes.

“The Walmart Foundation is pleased to be a part of supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of America,” said Karrie Denniston, Senior Director of Sustainability at Walmart. “Through programs like this we have helped provide nutrition education to over 4 million people in less than five years. This funding will continue to support Native youth in living healthy lifestyles and exploring healthy food.”

Since 1992, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has established more than 200 Clubs serving approximately 90,000 Native youth. These Clubs exist in 27 states and represent approximately 115 different American Indian and Alaska Native organizations including American Samoa. Boys & Girls Clubs of America is dedicated to strengthening Native youth’s cultural identity through programing that explicitly promotes positive growth and development along critical cultural, social, emotional, intellectual and physical dimensions.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,300 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contacts

Ashley Keyes
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
404-487-5466
akeyes@BGCA.org