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Fuel for School

Fuel for School is a breakfast program designed to provide hungry Calgary Board of Education (CBE) elementary students with a nutritious breakfast prior to starting their studies each day. The breakfast includes items such as bagels, toast, cereal, fruit, yogurt, peanut butter and jam. The aim of the program is to reduce the emotional stress, health risks and negative academic effects of hunger and poor nutrition for elementary-aged students.

Fuel for School works in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary’s Food and Nutrition for Schools (FANS) Program to provide this service at no cost to the children. In the 2009-2010 school year, close to 100,000 breakfasts were served in the 18 Fuel for School programs.

The Calgary Board of Education currently applies for grants and relies on donations from various organizations and individual donors to support the Fuel for School breakfast programs. This year, along with some generous Calgarians, CBE has received funding grants from EducationMatters which will support four of our breakfast programs. In addition to this grant, for the second year in a row, Somerset Dental on James has made a generous donation to our Fuel for School program through their in-house fundraising efforts. As the Calgary Board of Education is a registered charity, tax receipts can be issued for donations over $25.

A new collaborative effort between the Fuel for School Nutrition Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary Foundation was established in the Fall of 2008. The goal of this foundation is to generate sustainable funds rather than struggle each year to raise new money for the breakfast programs which is its current reality. As the number children coming to school hungry increases, it is vital that we continue to provide this program in our 18 schools and expand the program to other schools also in need.

Background

In 2000, the Calgary Board of Education and its project partners launched a pilot program in 18 elementary schools to determine the effectiveness of a school breakfast program. This program, Fuel for School, took place over an 18-month period, with final results in June 2002. During the pilot, the need proved to be greater than expected and additional funds were required to see it through to completion. Throughout the 2001-2002 school year, an independent evaluation process was undertaken to determine the success of the program and the feasibility of its expansion to other CBE schools.

The results of the evaluation process demonstrated the program was having a significant impact on the lives of the children who were participating in the program. It gave those children the opportunity to make the most of their education. Based on the evaluation of the pilot program, school attendance improved, academic performance improved (in 4 out of 5 subject areas) and social/behavioural indicators showed very positive growth. As a result, it was decided to continue the program for the 2002-2003 school year and it has been a significant part of the school life in the participating schools ever since. The program is currently running in 19 CBE schools and continues to make a difference in the lives of the children in the participating schools.

The Mayor of Calgary formally recognized the positive impact of this program. In 2002, the Fuel for School Program was awarded the Mayor’s Partnership Excellence Award for Broad-based Community Partnerships.

For further information on how you can support the Fuel for School breakfast program, please contact: Corporate Partnerships at 403-294-8114 or email us at partnerships@cbe.ab.ca

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Last Modified: August 31, 2010

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