Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Target Announce Partnership to Create Healthier Schools for 20 million Students

(NEW YORK) June 28, 2016 – The Alliance for a Healthier Generation announced today it has received a $1,000,000 one-year grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) to create sustainable healthy school environments that improve nutrition, increase physical activity and provide wellness policies and education for students and families.

The grant will expand the Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program to reach more than 20 million students in 35,000 schools by 2017, including support in nine specific communities including: Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, San Francisco/Oakland, San Jose and Seattle.

The Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program is one of the nation’s largest school-based childhood obesity prevention initiative. Using an evidence-based process that creates sustainable change and positively impacts student health, the Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program supports schools to implement policies and practices that meet federal requirements and further local health and wellness goals.

“Aside from home, kids spend most of their time in school -- where the Alliance is transforming environments to provide and promote good health,” says Dr. Howell Wechsler, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “Our work is perfectly aligned with Target’s new priority to support health and wellness for youth. We are honored to receive this support from one of the nation’s most respected brands, and we look forward to our partnership to ensure every child lives a long, healthy life.”

The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to help make wellness more affordable, accessible and inspirational for its team members, guests and communities. Target also is partnering closely with local leaders and organizations in communities around the country who are experts in youth wellness and actively working to close the wellness gap for children. These efforts are part of Target’s long history of giving 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million every week.

“At Target, we are committed to helping make wellness a way of life for our team members, guests and communities,” said Laysha Ward, chief corporate social responsibility officer, Target. “That’s why we are excited to partner with an impressive array of organizations who are 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 of kids and families across the country.”

The Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program is a national initiative grounded in a six-step process that guides schools to create and sustain healthy environments. Any U.S. school or individual can enroll in the Healthy Schools Program and receive support to become a healthier place. Find out more at HealthierGeneration.org.

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About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation 
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits, by ensuring the environments that surround them provide and promote good health. Get involved at HealthierGeneration.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.

Contact:

Megan Corey
Alliance for a Healthier Generation 
917-399-5250 
Megan.Corey@HealthierGeneration.org

Target Corporation 
Jessica Stevens, Communications, (612) 761-6351 
Target Media Hotline, (612) 696-3400