3rd Annual National KidsDay Celebration

Third Annual National KidsDay Celebrated on August 3

Bow Wow, Hector Elizondo and Major General Alfred Valenzuela Join Kraft Foods, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and KidsPeace to Celebrate Children Nationwide

Kraft Foods to Donate $45,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America for Playing Fields and Athletic Facilities, Food to Local Homeless Shelters


NORTHFIELD, Ill., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 3, 2003, rap artist Bow Wow, actor Hector Elizondo and Major General Alfred Valenzuela of the U.S.


Army will join Kraft Foods in supporting the third annual National KidsDay(R), a nationwide celebration spearheaded by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and KidsPeace to honor and celebrate American's number one resource -- children -- through the gift of meaningful time.


Taking place all across America, National KidsDay features fun-filled activities that bring kids and parents together, allowing them to play and rediscover one another. With special events in Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles, National KidsDay also aims to establish the first Sunday of August each year as a national holiday honoring children nationwide.


As part of the ceremonies, Kraft Foods is presenting a total of $45,000 to the local Boys & Girls Clubs organizations in Washington D.C., New York and Los Angeles for the express use of improving Boys & Girls Clubs athletic and active play facilities so that children can maintain healthy, active lifestyles. In addition, Kraft will fill a giant Community Picnic Basket with non-perishable items to be donated to local homeless shelters that benefit families and invites the public to support the effort by bringing canned goods to the event.


"At Kraft Foods, we are dedicated to supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of America because they enrich the lives of America's families," said Deborah Mackiewicz, Senior Brand Manager of Multicultural Strategy & Kids Alliance at Kraft Foods. "To that end, Kraft is honored to sponsor National KidsDay, an annual event that brings families together and celebrates children."


Kraft LalaPLAYlooza
As part of its participation in National KidsDay, Kraft Foods will host LalaPLAYlooza, fun-filled activities fostering healthy living and family unity. Kraft LalaPLAYlooza will kick off with a family walk and continue with series of interactive games, friendly competitions, arts and crafts where children and adults can spend meaningful time together. Kraft LalaPLAYlooza will take place at the National KidsDay Picnic/Family Event on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in New York City's Bronx borough and on Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles.


"Kraft Foods has been a generous supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs for many years," says Roxanne Spillett, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.


"Their participation in National KidsDay helps us not only touch the lives of more families but also honor the rich diversity and contributions of our kids."
Celebrities, many of whom are Boys & Girls Club alumni and include rap artist Bow Wow, actor Hector Elizondo and Major General Alfred Valenzuela, are joining Kraft Foods and the Boys & Girls Clubs in their efforts and will be making special appearances at Kraft LalaPLAYlooza.


The Annual Meaningful Time Check-up on U.S. Children & Families
As part of this year's National KidsDay, the results of the first Annual Meaningful Time Check-up on U.S. Children & Families will be released. The first of a series of annual "snapshots," this research examines how America is caring for its kids in the areas of health, nutrition, education, emotional well being, parental involvement and key current events. The research was sponsored by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and KidsPeace, with noted child psychiatrist Dr. Alvin Poussaint taking a lead role. The complete survey results along with an abbreviated version for the public to take and compare with the national results is available on-line at http://www.kidsday.net.


About National KidsDay
National KidsDay is supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, an official nonpartisan organization of 1,139 cities across the country. An additional Honor Roll of supporters include: American Zoo & Aquarium Association; Association of Children's Museums; Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association; Covering Kids; Foundation for Small Voices; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Center of Missing & Exploited Children; Search Institute; and Voices for America's Children. Major corporate sponsors include: BLOCKBUSTER; General Mills; The Home Depot; Kraft Foods; Major League Baseball; Party City; and Wal-Mart.


For more information on National KidsDay activities and The Annual Meaningful Time Check-up U.S. Children & Families, visit http://www.kidsday.net.


About Kraft Foods
Over the last decade, Kraft Foods has created new and exciting transcultural initiatives for kids that foster physical fitness, inspire a love of reading and motivate a sense of discovery through programs such as the Kraft Great Kids(TM) initiative, the Annual Latino Book & Family Festival, and partnerships with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.


In more than 150 countries, Kraft Foods manufactures and markets some of the world's favorite food and beverage brands including KRAFT Singles cheese, CAPRI SUN Soft Drink, POST Fruity PEBBLES cereal, OREO cookies, CHIPS AHOY! cookies, RITZ crackers, KOOL-AID Soft Drinks, JELL-O pudding and gelatin, CORNNUTS toasted corn kernels, OSCAR MAYER hot dogs, and LUNCHABLES lunch combinations.


For more information, please visit kraftfoods.com and its Spanish-language sister site comidakraft.com.


About Boys & Girls Club of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (http://www.bgca.org) compromises a national network of more than 3,300 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 3.6 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Clubs programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.


About KidsPeace
KidsPeace (http://www.kidspeace.org) the National Center for Kids Overcoming Crisis, is a 120-year-old charity helping give America's children hope, help and healing to overcome the kind of crises that can strike any child, such as depression, traumas, family issues, and the stresses of modern life.
KidsPeace has been cited as the "Outstanding Organization" of its kind by the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children, and "a prototype of what we should have for all children everywhere," by the late great family expert Dr. Lee Salk.

SOURCE Kraft Foods

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