To give more students the resources they need for the fun they deserve, FRITO-LAY® Variety Packs and CHEETOS® Mac ‘N Cheese are donating more than $300,000 to GENYOUth to provide access to 10 million meals through Grab-and-Go school breakfast and after-school programmes. Through the support of GENYOUth, a national non-profit that creates healthier school communities, this donation will also supply 120 NFL FLAG-In-School kits to keep 66,000 kids active in youth sports.
In celebration of this partnership, husband-and-wife duo and former professional athletes, J.J. and Kealia Watt, are teaming up with Frito-Lay Variety Packs and CHEETOS Mac ‘N Cheese to spread awareness about the importance of increasing access to school meals and youth sports programming.
“As athletes and parents, we know it’s essential for our youth to have access to school meals and the value of accessible youth sports to develop teambuilding skills and teach the importance of hard work and perseverance,” said J.J. Watt. “We are so excited to return to Houston — a city that holds a special place in our hearts — to give back to the community, alongside Frito-Lay Variety Packs, CHEETOS Mac ‘N Cheese, GENYOUth and NFL FLAG, who are providing invaluable resources.”
Watt, who spent 10 years of his professional football career playing in Houston, has long supported youth sports initiatives within the community. Together with Frito-Lay Variety Packs, CHEETOS Mac ‘N Cheese and GENYOUth, the Watts hosted a community sports event at Houston Methodist Training Center. The event marked a donation of a Grab-and-Go school meal cart and NFL FLAG-In-School kits to a deserving school in Houston’s Lamar CISD, along with an after-school snack for 100 students. The Watts also guest-coached youth attendees participating in a flag football game.
“Schools play a crucial role in ensuring proper nutrition and providing safe places to play and learn for 55 million students. With one in eight US children living in food insecurity and only one in four getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, we ensure schools have the resources to help children thrive,” Ann Marie Krautheim, CEO, GENYOUth, said. “We are grateful for Frito-Lay Variety Packs and CHEETOS Mac ‘N Cheese’s support to help end student hunger and encourage play through school sports programmes.”
“Frito-Lay Variety Packs and CHEETOS Mac ‘N Cheese are staples when it comes to the back-to-school season, and this year, we’re providing students access to school meals so they can focus on starting the school year off right,” Melissa Miranda, Vice President of Portfolio Marketing for Frito-Lay Variety Packs, said. “In working with remarkable partners like GENYOUth, we strive to continue driving our shared mission to equip and empower youth with resources to reach well-nourished, high-achieving futures.”
The collaboration between Frito-Lay and GENYOUth builds upon their longstanding relationship and shared commitment to combating food insecurity. Frito-Lay, Quaker and the PepsiCo Foundation have collectively provided over $6 million to GENYOUth since 2009. As part of its ongoing purpose work, Frito-Lay remains dedicated to ending food insecurity in the communities where its employees live and work. In 2022 alone, Frito-Lay donated over $7 million worth of products to non-profit partners and communities across the United States and served over 232 schools.
To learn more about GENYOUth’s mission and donate, visit genyouthnow.org.
