The Medibank Community Fund (MCF) has awarded a $5,000 community grant to Colac Secondary College in Colac, Victoria.
The grant will allow Colac Secondary College to extend its free 'Breakfast Club' program from years seven and eight to all students in the senior school. The grant will also enable every student from year seven-12 to enjoy a healthy snack every Tuesday afternoon through the 'Fruit Frenzy' program.
Medibank Retail State Manager for VIC, Mark OShaughnessy said the program embraced the Medibank Community Fund's priorities of promoting healthy eating, physical activity and greater community connectedness -the key selection criteria for the MCF grants program.
"Medibank employees on our Regional Council from across Victoria, expressed overwhelming support for Colac Secondary College's application because their program takes a preventative and proactive approach to adolescent health by providing students with the nutritional start they need to live healthily and reach their potential", said Mr OShaughnessy.
"The Medibank Community Fund grants program supports local, grassroots initiatives that aim to create a lasting and positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of people in the community and Colac Secondary College and its 'Breakfast Club' and 'Fruit Frenzy' programs are doing just that".
The program addresses the issue of food security in the Colac-Otway Shire, which is home to many families from low socio-economic backgrounds that are more susceptible to making unhealthy food choices due to monetary restraints.
Principal of Colac Secondary College, Simon Dewar said the grant will allow more students to access our breakfast program.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and our programs are assisting students with their physical and mental wellbeing so they can be sustained throughout the day in order to reach their full academic potential", said Mr Dewar.
Colac Secondary College is one of 42 recipients chosen from more than 900 applications across Australia and New Zealand to receive a 2014 Medibank Community Fund grant.