The Colorado Legacy Foundation (CLF) awarded nearly a quarter-million dollars to thirteen school districts and one charter school throughout Colorado as part of CLF’s School Health and Wellness Initiative. They are: East Grand School District (Granby), West Grand School District (Kremmling), Durango School District (Durango), Archuleta School District (Pagosa Springs), Center Consolidated Schools (Center), La Veta School District (La Veta), Adams 12 Five Star Schools (Thornton), San Juan School District (Silverton), Scholars to Leaders Academy (Colorado Springs), Boulder Valley School District (Boulder), Mountain Valley School District (Saguache), Ridgway School District (Ridgway), Ouray School District (Ouray), and Woodland Park School District (Woodland Park).

“The Colorado Legacy Foundation recognizes the direct correlation between healthy students, healthy schools, education policies, and academic achievement,” said Dr. Helayne Jones, President and CEO of the Colorado Legacy Foundation. “We are thrilled to provide resources to districts that will help prepare students for healthy, successful lives both in and out of the classroom.”

The two-year grants, provided by an investment from the Colorado Health Foundation, will help school districts create and implement school health and wellness strategies and share the results of their work statewide. Participating districts will promote various health and wellness efforts including increased consumption of fruits and vegetables at school, providing healthy snack alternatives, implementing staff wellness programs, and increased physical activity.

“The Colorado Health Foundation believes that, together, we will make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation,” said Kelly Dunkin, vice president of philanthropy for the Colorado Health Foundation. “The Colorado Legacy Foundation, in partnership with school districts across the state, has done phenomenal work at incorporating health and wellness as a fundamental strategy to improve student achievement, and we are excited to invest in the expansion of their efforts.”

The new grantees were chosen through a competitive grant application process with selection based on their willingness and ability to implement innovative and collaborative systems as well as policy and environmental changes within their school health programs. Collectively, the districts serve more than 83,000 students.