Arizona-based restaurant, Grabbagreen, a food + juice concept known for healthy fast food, announced a partnership between the Grabbagreen Foundation and Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), a nonprofit organization that supports schools in improving physical activity and nutrition for students nationwide. Through this partnership, Grabbagreen is committed to AFHK’s mission of making every kid healthy, active, and ready to learn.
Since beginning the partnership late last year and with the help of its customers at Grabbagreen restaurants, the Grabbagreen Foundation has donated $12,400 to date to AFHK. Funds support AFHK’s work to improve nutrition education and physical activity initiatives in schools, including implementing AFHK’s Game On program and purchasing equipment for recess and physical education, playgrounds and play spaces, classroom energizers, walking and running clubs, and school gardens.
The synergy between the missions of Grabbagreen and AFHK comes from the very foundation Grabbagreen was built upon. Grabbagreen was founded in 2013 by two moms after they discovered it was increasingly difficult to feed their families healthy food on-the-go. The large demand fulfilled an unmet need in the marketplace, growing the concept to three company stores in less than two years and launching nationwide franchising in April 2015. Since launching franchising, the green footprint of Grabbagreen has expanded to 15 restaurants now open across the US in addition to 80 franchise agreements and 174 development agreements.
“Our vision is to lead the charge in making fast food healthy,” says Laura McCormack, director of the Grabbagreen Foundation. “Grabbagreen was structured based on the passion to feed kids healthy food on the go. When launching national franchising efforts, we wanted a strong, national charitable partner that supported our same mission by helping kids grow to lead healthier lives and eat nutritious foods. AFKH is an ideal partner for us and provides many national opportunities our Grabbagreen franchisees can participate in across the country.”
Grabbagreen’s whole food menu is naturally gluten-free, preservative-free, GMO free, the proteins are hormone-free and antibiotic-free and organics make up a large part of Grabbagreen’s signature bowls. The menu offers a full selection of grain and green-based bowls, fresh-pressed juice, handcrafted smoothies, acai bowls and healthy, kid-friendly items.
This April, AFHK will celebrate the fifth annual Every Kid Healthy Week (April 24—28); an annual event that celebrates school health and wellness achievements. Grabbagreen will help AFHK put the spotlight on promoting the link between nutrition, physical activity and learning.
In addition to supporting Every Kid Healthy Week, Grabbagreen employees will also play a role by participating in affiliated volunteer projects on both a company-wide and individual level.