Sticks-2-Schools Fights Childhood Obesity by Bringing Lacrosse to 40,000 Youth in 78 Bay Area Schools, Surpasses $100K in Donations, Secures Continued Support from Kinder’s Meats

SAN JOSE, CA – Sticks-2-Schools (S2S), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting childhood obesity by encouraging youth to become more active, announced that 17 schools joined the program this season, bringing the total to 78 schools reached since the nonprofit’s inception in 2005. The organization also announced that it surpassed its four-year goal of raising $100,000, with donations now totaling $134,000. Specifically, the program raised $39,000 in the 2009 season, including recent donations of $500 from Fineline Carpentry, Inc, Belmont, Calif., and $150 from Pacific Color Graphics, Inc., Pleasanton, Calif.

One company that has been particularly generous to S2S over the last two years is Kinder’s Meats, a full-service barbeque restaurant, deli and meat market. The company contributed numerous silent auction items, catering and fundraising efforts to S2S and has promised their continued support of the program next season.

“As a local business, we love building relationships within our community because it draws everyone closer together. Sticks-2-Schools is great, and we’re so excited about the future of the program and our involvement in it,” said Brain Leffler, VP of Kinder’s Meats, who recently visited an S2S school site.

Sticks-2-Schools plans to leverage its website, enewsletter and other marketing resources to accelerate fundraising efforts next season, as there are now 31 schools who have qualified for the waiting list.

“Its costs S2S $2,000 to bring the program to one school, so we’ll have to raise $62,000 next season to bring the S2S program to the schools on our waiting list,” said Eric Venzon, S2S co-founder and CEO of Teamwrkx. “With the continued generosity of our sponsors and the launch of our grant writing program next fall, I’m hopeful we can serve the many schools who need our help to offer a fun physical activity as part of the school curriculum.”

Soft lacrosse, the variation S2S teaches, is a co-ed, non-contact game that rewards coordination and dexterity rather than physical strength. Each fully funded school receives forty sets of soft lacrosse balls and sticks, as well as a curriculum guide to help teachers incorporate lacrosse into both physical education and academic programs. Sticks-2-Schools’ ongoing partnership with the Stealth also enables at least one professional lacrosse player to come to each S2S school to teach students how to play. Breanna Kernan, S2S program coordinator, will continue to add new Bay Area schools to the waiting list and accept donations throughout the summer, with plans for the 2010 season kicking into gear in September.

About Kinder’s

Since 1946, Kinder’s (www.kindersmeats.com) has been a popular neighborhood meat market, deli and catering company. Kinder’s quick-service establishments specialize in grilled sandwiches, deli sandwiches, custom meats and catering services. The company has developed a collection of award winning BBQ sauces, marinades, rubs and spices and offers franchise opportunities for Kinder’s Meats-Deli-BBQ. More information is available at 925-407-2155.

About Sticks-2-Schools

Sticks-2-Schools (www.sticks2schools.org) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, public-benefit corporation founded to promote the healthy balance of mind and body in today’s youth and fight childhood obesity by motivating youth to increase their level of physical activity. Focusing on the sport of lacrosse, S2S coordinates and leads a collaboration of sponsors, equipment manufacturers, athletes, teachers and staff to supplement PE programs in Bay Area elementary, middle and high schools. Through the support of founding partners Teamwrkx, the San Jose Stealth and c3PR Public Relations, and with financial contributions from dozens of private companies and individuals, the program has reached more than 40,000 youth in 78 Greater Bay Area schools since 2005. More information is available from Program Coordinator Breanna Kernan at 925-460-8290.

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