On Wednesday, April 21, the San Francisco 49ers, in collaboration with the Junior League of Palo Alto Mid-Peninsula, will be demonstrating healthy cooking and the importance of physical fitness at the Kids in the Kitchen event at the 49ers Academy from 2-6 p.m. 49ers owner Dr. John York and his daughters, Jenna and Mara York, along with current players Kentwan Balmer and Khalif Mitchell will be in attendance to assist with a football camp and cooking demonstrations.
"The 49ers are committed to helping youth understand the importance of being active for at least 60 minutes a day, as part of the NFL's Play60 program," said 49ers Director of Community Relations and 49ers Foundation Joanne Pasternack. "Kids in the Kitchen is a great way to show youth how to be health conscious, and, coupled, with one of our youth football camps, it will help the youth stay active as well."
The players will be serving as coaches for a Gatorade Junior Training Camp and Dr. York's daughters Jenna and Mara, will be serving as "sous chefs" for the cooking demonstrations with Alessandro Cartumini from the Four Seasons East Palo Alto.
The event will include a cooking class for students in Kindergarten through fifth grade from 2-3:15 p.m., a 49ers Junior Gatorade Camp from 3:15-4:15 p.m. and cooking demonstrations from Alessandro and the Yorks from 4:15-6 p.m. The event will conclude with the awarding of raffle prizes including a 49ers BMX bike and helmet, fitness and nutrition themed baskets, a skateboard signed by Tony Hawk, and more. Each child will also receive a 49ers reusable lunch bag and goodies.
The goal of the Kids in the Kitchen initiative, which is supported by The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. and its member Leagues, is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.
"Maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle is extremely important for today's youth," said Jan Woolsey, president, Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid-Peninsula. "By partnering with the San Francisco 49ers, the Junior League is able to further promote the development, confidence and growth of these children through healthy eating and cooking, and physical fitness."
The event will host approximately 200 youth from both the 49ers Academy and Costano Elementary School, which shares the campus and mission of the 49ers Academy. The 49ers Academy was founded in 1996 to serve 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from East Palo Alto. Defined by educational excellence, the 49ers Academy maximizes the potential of every student by emphasizing self-discipline, respect, and individualized academic attention to help them master core subjects and prepare for high school.
