Cargill Limited Helping to Nourish Manitoba's Youth

Donates $15,000 to support school nutrition programs across the province

October 31, 2003

WINNIPEG, MB - For the second consecutive year, Cargill Limited has donated $15,000 to support school nutrition programs in rural Manitoba and Winnipeg’s core area. These funds will help provide nourishing breakfasts to more than 750 children throughout the 2003/2004 school year so that they can start their day off on the right track.

“Cargill has a long history of giving back to our community,” says Robert Meijer, Cargill’s Director of Public Affairs. “We share BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING’s belief that we all have a collective responsibility for our children and by supporting them through our Cargill Cares giving program, we not only help to promote social responsibility in our community, but also help to nourish the potential of our youth.”

In Canada, over 31% of elementary and 62% of secondary school students do not eat breakfast on a daily basis. Research has shown that a child’s behaviour, learning capacity, cognitive performance and school attendance are negatively impacted by inadequate nutrition. School-based nutrition programs provide all children with an opportunity to receive a nutritious meal in a supportive environment.

“Nutrition is such an important element in a child’s healthy development and potential for learning,” says Anne Lindsay, Chair, BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING, Canadian Living Foundation. “Each year, the need for nutrition programs continues to grow, far surpassing our resources. We are proud to partner with companies like Cargill who share in our vision and whose generosity will help ensure that Manitoba’s children start the day off well nourished and ready to learn.”

BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING is the only national, non-profit organization solely dedicated to supporting child nutrition in Canada. By helping to fund breakfast, lunch and snack programs in schools all across Canada, BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING has helped to provide more than 175 million nourishing meals to children since 1992. Founded by forward-thinking editors at Canadian Living magazine, BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING today supports over 7,000 nutrition programs and works with communities to develop and enhance programs to ensure that all children in Canada attend school well nourished.

Cargill Limited is one of Canada’s largest agricultural merchandisers and processors. The company, which is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, has interests in meat, egg and oilseed processing, animal feed, salt and fertilizer manufacturing, chocolate, as well as grain handling and merchandising.

Robert Meijer
Director, Public Affairs
Cargill Limited
Telephone: (204) 947-6370
robert_meijer@cargill.com

Andrea Ferneyhough
Telephone: (416) 218-3540
andreaf@breakfastforlearning.ca