Training, Education & Research Institute Receives $60,000 Grant From ConAgra Foods Foundation to Fight Child Hunger

SAN DIEGO, CA, June 09, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Training, Education & Research Institute (TERI, Inc) is one of 11 nonprofit organizations in nine states selected to receive $60,000 as part of the ConAgra Foods Foundation's Community Impact Grants program.

After a highly competitive two-step process, 11 organizations were selected to receive grants totaling more than $400,000 to support their innovative approaches to helping fight child hunger. TERI was awarded the largest grant, receiving $60,000 for its Fit for Life program.

Committed to health and nutrition and recognizing that individuals with developmental disabilities experience poor nutrition, obesity, and other serious health problems at significantly higher rates than those living without disabilities, TERI launched its Fit for Life program. Fit for Life offers individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities the opportunity to participate in programs focused on both fitness and nutritional education, including growing their own food to be used in meal preparation. TERI's Fit for Life program aims to transform the way individuals with special needs eat, exercise and prepare food while preventing diseases related to malnutrition and obesity. The students involved with TERI's Fit for Life program have seen incredible outcomes, including: weight loss, improvement in their health, fewer annual trips to healthcare professionals, higher energy levels and the understanding and tools to make nutrition, meal preparation and health a focus across their lifespan.

"Millions of children in this country aren't sure if or from where they will get their next meal, and our Community Impact Grants are an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a select group of local nonprofits each year to offer real, sustainable solutions to end child hunger. We look forward to working with TERI and learning from their successes so that we can apply those lessons to our own work," said Kori Reed, vice president, ConAgra Foods Foundation.

ConAgra Foods Foundation provides Community Impact Grants to organizations that have identified innovative solutions to combat child hunger and enhance nutrition education among at-risk populations. Community Impact Grant recipients are selected primarily from communities where ConAgra Foods has a presence and/or states where more than 20 percent of children are at risk of hunger. In the second year of this initiative, the ConAgra Foods Foundation has given approximately $1 million dollars to nonprofit organizations nationally.

To learn more about TERI, its Fit for Life program, or its new campus dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with special needs, visit: http://teriinc.org or text or email teri@mogiv.com. To join in on the latest conversation, visit: http://twitter.com/weareteri or http://facebook.com/teriinc. To learn more about ConAgra Foods or its Community Impacts Grant program, visit: http://conagrafoodsfoundation.org.

About the Training, Education & Research Institute (TERI, Inc):
Founded in 1980, TERI, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) California corporation. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for children and adults with developmental disabilities and learning disabilities, specializing in serving individuals who have needs which cannot be met by other existing programs. TERI looks to the future by continuing its commitment to set new standards through establishing model programs, conducting applied research in best practices and procedures and offering training and consultation to professionals, families, and community members. Recognized as a model program in the State of California for the quality of services it provides to its clients, TERI relies on donations from the community and foundations in order to continue to set the highest standards and ensure an uncompromised quality of life to its population. For more information, visit http://teriinc.org.

About ConAgra Foods Foundation:
The ConAgra Foods Foundation, through its Nourish Today, Flourish Tomorrow platform, is dedicated to raising awareness of the 17 million children in America who are at risk of hunger and don't have enough food to live active, healthful lives. It aggressively pursues sustainable solutions in the fight against child hunger. And the Foundation is committed to building a community of people who are passionate about ensuring that all kids have access to the food and facts they need to eat nutritiously while living balanced lifestyles and succeeding in school and life. ConAgra Foods Foundation invests in national and local partnerships with high-impact, not-for-profit organizations, such as Feeding America, that take an innovative approach to addressing needs in the core areas of hunger and nutrition education. For more information, please visit http:// conagrafoodsfoundation.org or http:// facebook.com/ConAgraFoodsFoundation. The ConAgra Foods Foundation is funded solely by ConAgra Foods.