By John Denton
Sept. 8, 2014
ORLANDO – Sadly, thousands of Central Florida children are forced to settle for junk food or even worse no food at all during long stretches of the summer break when school isn’t in session.
This past summer, Hebni Nutrition Consultants – along with a big financial assist from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF) – was able to work toward solving some of the hunger and nutrition issues that arise when kids are on summer break and the free or reduced school lunches aren’t available.
Hebni Nutrition Consultant’s goal to make a difference in the lives of youth throughout Central Florida got a big assist last fall when it was given a $30,000 grant by the OMYF-MFF.
The grant money went toward the “Keeping Your Diet Straight, Take Charge” program. It provides summer and after-school programs targeting elementary and middle-school youth in low-income communities with exercise classes, cooking demonstrations and parent nutrition training. OMYF-MFF funding allowed Hebni Nutrition Consultants to expand their programming to additional schools and increase the total youth served.
In the last 24 years more than $18 million has been distributed to local nonprofit community organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, which serves at-risk youth.
This past year alone, the Magic awarded $600,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations based throughout Central Florida. The 25 grantees were a nod to the Magic’s year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary season. The $600,000 in grants given out in January raise the total to $3.8 million awarded over the past four years.
“We really do get to impact youth by helping all of the great work that all of these organizations are doing,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “There are hundreds of youth organizations throughout Central Florida who are doing great work to help at-risk youth and set them on a path for a better life. This is just a small way for us to try and help them do their work. They do all of the work, and for us to be able to distribute all of these funds and expand the number of youth that they serve or add another program, it’s incredibly meaningful to us.”
Hebni Nutrition Consultants is a community-based nonprofit organization committed to improving consumer’s health by providing comprehensive nutrition information. Their primary goals are to foster dietary compliance in existing diseases and to facilitate the prevention of nutrition-related disease through appropriate nutrition intervention.
HNC targets culturally diverse populations who are at risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and other diet-related diseases. In their state-of-the-art Nutrition Resource Center, HNC has conducted the K.Y.D.S Cooking Club, teambuilding and cooking instructions and several other popular programs.
Here is a closer look at HNC’s mission and the Magic’s work in the Central Florida community:
2014 GRANT RECIPIENTS FROM OMYF-MFF: Adult Literacy League, Apopka Family Learning Center, BETA Center, Boys Town Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, City Year, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Elevate Orlando, Florida Hospital for Children, Foundation for Foster Children, Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Gift of Swimming, Harbor House of Central Florida, Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, Orange County Library System, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Osceola Council on Aging, Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, The Center for Drug Free Living-Zebra Coalition, The Salvation Army, University of Central Florida Foundation, Valencia College Foundation.
FEATURED ORGANIZATION: Hebni Nutrition Consultants
HEBNI NUTRITION CONSULTANT’S PURPOSE: HNC’s mission is to provide nutrition education and strategies to prevent diet-related diseases. HNC is committed to improving consumers' health by providing comprehensive nutritional information to culturally diverse populations through seminars and community education programs.
2014 OMYF-MFF GRANT MONEY TO HEBNI NUTRITION CONSULTANTS: $30,000
HEBNI NUTRITION CONSULTANTS QUOTE: “We believe that if you can cook you control your destiny. If we can just get people back in the kitchen, we can help them live a healthier lifestyle.” – Hebni Nutrition Consultants Executive Director Roniece Weaver, MS RD LD
ORLANDO MAGIC QUOTE: “I’m really proud of what the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has been able to do and the commitment that they have to Central Florida and so many organizations. The Orlando Magic Youth Fund, as part of the McCormick Fund, has been able to donate $18 million to more than 500 nonprofit organizations and have a positive impact on 1 million youth throughout the community. That’s impressive. My family is very dedicated to this organization and to this community and it’s just great to see the response of organizations and the results that they are able to achieve.” – Magic Chairman Dan DeVos
To learn more about the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, visit here