ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (December 7, 2015) –Today Land O'Lakes, Inc. announced a multi-year partnership with GENYOUth, a leading non-profit organization focused on empowering America's youth to achieve a healthier future by uniting partners, raising funds and uplifting the student voice. The collaboration with GENYOUth will accelerate youth leadership in nutrition and provide experiential opportunities to develop the skills necessary to champion wellness in U.S schools and communities.
Through GENYOUth's flagship program Fuel Up to Play 60, the largest in-school health and wellness program in the country, Land O'Lakes will help students learn about where their food comes from by bringing the farm-to-fork story to life in schools and communities. In addition,
Land O'Lakes and GENYOUth will collaborate with Fair Oaks Farms, the University of Minnesota's Land O'Lakes Center for Excellence, which is under construction, and the Minnesota Vikings to create experiential learning opportunities that inspire engagement, creativity and focus while introducing students to mentors who can support and grow their commitment to their own healthy futures.
"Our ability to bring public and private leaders together to support the growing challenges of nutrition and youth wellness enables us to uniquely reach and impact a younger generation," said Alexis Glick, CEO, GENYOUth. "With the support of Land O'Lakes, we will be able to develop resources and experiential opportunities to educate and empower youth to be life-long champions of wellness at school, at home or in the workplace."
Inspired by GENYOUth's commitment to empower youth to become stewards of their own healthy, high-achieving futures, Chris Policinski, president and chief executive officer of Land O'Lakes Inc. has been appointed to GENYOUth's distinguished board of directors, which represents leaders from across various public sector organizations and private sector companies.
"Recognized as a leader in the food and agriculture industry, Chris is an asset to our Board," said GENYOUth's Chairman Thomas Gallagher. "His influence among the industry and his relationship-building skills will help raise awareness of GENYOUth and its mission, allowing us to reach more thought leaders and potential partners. A leader and a visionary, we look forward to working with Chris on accomplishing our goals."
Land O'Lakes, Inc. is one of America's premier member-owned cooperatives and a leading marketer of dairy-based food products for consumers, food service professionals and food manufacturers.
"Land O'Lakes is committed to a strong, empowered next generation, and we are pleased to strengthen our partnership with GENYOUth as part of the solution," Policinski said. "I am impressed with the work that GENYOUth has been able to accomplish in a few short years in partnership with the National Dairy Council and the National Football League.
Policinski noted the relationships board members had built with some of the most prestigious organizations and thought leaders across this country and said he looked forward to helping them continue to lead change in schools and communities across the country.
"With this partnership, we also look forward to helping the next generation learn more about where their food comes from and what it will take to feed nearly 10 billion people on the planet by 2050," Policinski added.
For more information on GENYOUth and its current Board of Directors, visit: www.genyouthfoundation.org.
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For More Information:
About GENYOUth FoundationA leading nonprofit, GENYOUth brings leaders in health and wellness, education, government and business together in a movement to empower America's youth to achieve a healthier future by uniting partners, raising funds and uplifting the student voice. GENYOUth has established itself as a thought leader in youth health and wellness and collaborates with its partners to convene experts, conduct research, publish perspective reports, and build programs that make a lasting difference in the pursuit of healthy, high-achieving youth. Founded in 2010 through a public-private partnership with the National Dairy Council and the NFL, GENYOUth has raised funds, increased visibility and commitment to school wellness among health and wellness leaders, educators, students, parents, community leaders and businesses. Learn more about GENYOUth partnership, volunteer and donation opportunities at http://www.genyouthfoundation.org or contact us at: info@genyouthfoundation.org.
About Land O'Lakes Inc.*
*Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from farm production to consumer foods. With 2014 annual sales of more than $15 billion, Land O'Lakes is one of the nation's largest cooperatives, ranking 203 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 94 years of operation, Land O'Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including LAND O LAKES® Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition and Winfield Solutions. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O'Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minn.
