The United Fresh Start Foundation Recognized as the Latest TQL Moves that Matter Recipient
Cincinnati, OH – As part of its Moves that Matter program, Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is donating $1,000 to the United Fresh Start Foundation, supporting their partnership in the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative.
The goal of Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools (LMSB2S) is to increase student’s fruit and vegetable consumption at school lunch by donating salad bars to schools. School salad bars are an effective strategy to increase student’s fruit and vegetable consumption, empowering them to make their own healthy choices and encouraging healthier eating habits. Additionally, salad bars assist schools with meeting new school lunch nutrition standards, which require serving a greater amount and variety of fruits and vegetables each day.
The United Fresh Start Foundation is one of the founding partners of the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, engaging the produce industry, non-profit foundations, healthcare organizations and allied businesses to support salad bars for schools. Since 2010, salad bars have been donated to over 4,100 schools in all fifty states, benefitting nearly 3 million children every school day. Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to improve children’s health and end childhood obesity in a generation.
This year, TQL has signed-on as a sponsor of the 2015 Tour de Fresh, a produce industry cycling event to raise funds for salad bars for schools, supporting the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative. The four day cycling event, presented by The California Giant Foundation, begins October 19 in Hickory, North Carolina and ends on October 22 in Atlanta, Georgia. TQL is providing the transportation to move the bikes and support vehicles used in the cycling event.
“These shipments are part of the more than 23,000 loads we haul each week, many of which impact non-profit organizations across the country. We are pleased to continue supporting our communities and expanding our charitable efforts across the United States,” said TQL President Kerry Byrne.
Moves that Matter awards money to non-profit organizations using the truckload transportation industry. TQL customers, carriers and employees nominate the award recipients based on shipments they help arrange or haul.
According to Andrew Marshall, Director of Foundation Programs and Partnerships for the United Fresh Produce Association, “We are honored that Total Quality Logistics has selected to recognize our foundation’s work to support salad bars for schools. Kids love to make their own selections from a school salad bar and it gets them engaged in the process of choosing healthy foods. Additionally, once installed, the salad bar is often a conversation starter, engaging teachers, students, parents and others in the community about the importance of eating more fruits and veggies, and making healthy meal and snack choices.”
The TQL Moves that Matter program was started in 2014 when the company was arranging transportation for playground shipments, which were part of an effort to honor the 26 lives lost in the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
Moves That Matter is administered by TQL Cares, the company’s employee-driven community service initiative. Any TQL employee, customer, or carrier who has had the honor of being a part of a move that mattered for a qualified 501 (c) (3) is asked to share his or her story by email at MovesThatMatter@tql.com.
ABOUT TOTAL QUALITY LOGISTICS
Total Quality Logistics, one of the largest freight brokerage firms in the nation, will have 37 offices in 20 states as of November 2015. The company’s social investments focus on children, education, health and wellness and military support. In 2014, TQL donated nearly $1 million to charitable organizations. TQL is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has more than 3,600 employees across the country. Individual satellite offices and team members financially support and volunteer with countless organizations close to their own hearts. Connect with TQL on the web at TQL.com, on Facebook at Life at TQL or on Twitter @TQLogistics.
ABOUT THE UNITED FRESH START FOUNDATION
The United Fresh Start Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization focused exclusively on increasing children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Affiliated with the United Fresh Produce Association, the Foundation is committed to helping today’s kid’s achieve the public health goal to make half their plate fruits and vegetables in order to live longer and healthier lives. We work to create an environment in which kids have easy access to high-quality, great-tasting and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, whenever and wherever they are choosing snacks or a meal.
ABOUT LET'S MOVE SALAD BARS TO SCHOOLS
Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools is a public health campaign to increase salad bars in schools across the country so that every child has the choice of healthy fruits and vegetables every day at school. Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools supports First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation. Founding partners are: The United Fresh Start Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, Chef Ann Foundation, and Whole Foods Market. More information can be found online at www.saladbars2schools.org.
