Titans Hometown Grant awarded to Warren County Schools, first Kentucky district to get the grant

BOWLING GREEN Ky.- What had energy matching a sporting event was actually a Tuesday morning at Henry Moss Middle School, with special guest appearances from former Tennessee Titans linebacker Gerald McRath, and USA Olympic gold medalist Lee Keifer. Both attended the presentation of $10,000 from the Tennessee Titans and the Dairy Alliance, which promotes healthy eating and physical activity. Both athletes agree that these two factors are keys to success.

“Where these kids are at their point in life, they’re still learning, so you have to make sure that you’re fueling your mind day in and day out. To be able to supply another resource for these kids to be successful down the road is priceless,” McRath said.

“It’s so much fun for me, and to be honest, it’s one of the benefits I have of being a medalist. Being able to use my platform to talk about nutrition and hard work with these kids,” Kiefer added.

The ‘NFL Fuel Up to Play 60 Hometown Grant Program’ provides deserving schools with funding to facilitate sustainable physical activity and healthy eating programs for students. This marks the first time this grant has been awarded to a Kentucky School District. Representatives from The Dairy Alliance say this district is much deserving of this grant.

“Physical activity is very vital for kids to get, to be physically active every day, to try to get 60 minutes of physical activity helps to decrease stress, feel better overall about themselves, and gives that energy they need to regroup and focus for the school day,” said food and nutrition outreach director for The Dairy Alliance Laura Marbury.

With a day that included fun interaction and games with the students and professional athletes, district staff extend thanks to the Titans and their team for seeing the potential in this district.

“In some weird way, it’s almost like validation that our plan that we have for our students has merit. If the Tennessee Titans looks at our plan and says it has merit, I think that says a lot,” said Warren County Public Schools director of nutrition and dining Kelly Holt.

$4,000 of this grant will go to the district’s nutrition and dining department to fund smoothie bikes, an interactive way for students to learn about nutrition and exercise. $2,000 each will go to Henry Moss Middle School, Warren East Middle School, and Drakes Creek Middle School for sustainable physical education equipment.