Recognition of Global Child Nutrition Month

Floor Speech

RECOGNITION OF GLOBAL CHILD NUTRITION MONTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - April 30, 2009)

SPEECH OF HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN
OF MASSACHUSETTS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

* Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the School Nutrition Association, (SNA) and the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF). It is my distinct pleasure to share with you how one organization, along with some loose change, can make a dramatic difference for those around the globe who are less fortunate.

* April is Global Child Nutrition Month and to celebrate, the School Nutrition Association, in conjunction with the Global Child Nutrition Foundation is collecting funds to ``Change the World''. SNA and GCNF encourage school nutrition professionals to take a day, a week, or the whole month to partner with students and teachers in raising funds to fight global hunger. Through the Change Our World campaign, the funds raised will be used to support GCNF and other local and international hunger organizations. Hundreds of school districts nationwide are participating this month.

* For the second year during Global Child Nutrition Month, the annual Change Our World fundraising campaign continues its mission to raise awareness about global hunger. Last year, Change Our World raised $110,000 for GCNF. I am hopeful that this year's campaign will exceed last year's efforts.

* The Global Child Nutrition Foundation was created in 2006 with the mission of expanding opportunities for the world's children to receive adequate nutrition for learning and achieving their potential. I visited the GCNF Web site to learn more about its work and was delighted to see how just in a few years' time, one organization has done so much to make a difference. I would encourage all of my colleagues to visit the GCNF Web site at www.gcnf.org to learn more about its activities.

* Additionally, I am delighted to report that the GCNF will hold its 2009 Global Child Nutrition Forum outside of Cape Town, South Africa, May 5-9, 2009. The Forum marks the beginning of a three-year technical assistance cycle to advance school feeding through sharing problem solving guidance and ongoing communication with country leaders from selected developing countries.

* As we speak of these developing countries, we are reminded that nearly 300 million of the world's children are caught in the debilitating cycle of poverty and hunger. According to the World Food Programme, 170 million of these children attend school, but most do not receive meals there. Because a hungry child cannot learn, GCNF works to help nations build and sustain school feeding programs to nurture and educate children.

* Madam Speaker, as someone who is committed to ending hunger once and for all, I thank and commend the School Nutrition Association and the Global Child Nutrition Foundation for recognizing April as Global Child Nutrition Month.

* It is my hope that all of us can work together to be a part of the solution as we continue to raise awareness in eradicating hunger.

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