Quaker®, NFL Quarterback Andrew Luck And Fuel Up To Play 60 Bring "Day Of Play" To National Contest Winner
NFL players Andrew Luck and Zach Ertz join grand prize winning Philadelphia family for an event to celebrate and inspire an active lifestyle

CHICAGO, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent study, nearly nine in 10 parents consider activities that involve movement and physical activity superior to other leisure activities. Still, four out of 10 parents wish that their children were more active.1 That's why The Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., partnered with Fuel Up to Play 60 on Saturday, April 18 to award one family that makes playing together a priority, with a Day of Play hosted by Indianapolis Colts quarterback and Quaker spokesperson Andrew Luck in their hometown of Philadelphia.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, second from left, enjoys an oatmeal breakfast with a local Philadelphia family, the Loftons, winners of the national Quaker

As part of its commitment to fueling healthy families, Quaker teamed up with Fuel Up to Play 60, the nation's largest in-school wellness program, to inspire everyone to get up and get active for at least 60 minutes of play each day. During the fall of last year, Quaker asked parents nationwide to enter the "Make the Play" contest by submitting a summary and photo showcasing the unique ways their family plays together. Out of more than 1,000 entries, the Lofton family was named the winner with their creative 'Zombie Obstacle Course Game' entry.

"We were so surprised when we got the call and found out that we were the winning family," said mom of three, Michelle Lofton. "Making up our own mini obstacle courses in our local park is the way our family stays connected while getting active, so to see one of our games as inspiration for such a fun-filled day with Andrew Luck cheering us on is really special."

Luck, along with past Stanford teammate and Philadelphia tight end Zach Ertz, hosted the Day of Play for the Lofton family just outside of Philadelphia, PA at YSC Sports. Luck, Ertz, the Loftons and 50 of their friends enjoyed an oatmeal breakfast and a morning full of activities, including agility drills, a football toss, face painting and an obstacle course inspired by the Lofton's grand-prize winning entry.

"I was so impressed by the Lofton family's creativity and how they've inspired their community to play today – what a fun morning," said Luck. "I know firsthand about the importance of getting active and eating right, and working with Quaker on programs like this allows me to continue inspiring families to live a healthy lifestyle; one that leads to benefits on and off the field."

Quaker's Dedication to Fueling Healthy Families
Quaker has been committed to fueling and inspiring families for 138 years by offering nourishing products made with whole grain oats, while educating communities on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and seeking partnerships that offer physical activity solutions.

"Good nutrition and fun activities go hand in hand," said Becky Frankiewicz, senior vice president and general manager of Quaker Foods North America.  "By partnering with Fuel Up to Play 60, we are empowering families like the Loftons to get up and get active – and to have fun while they're doing it."

Quaker also provides a variety of delicious, innovative products that help deliver the energy families want, including Old-Fashioned Quaker Oats, Instant Quaker Oatmeal, Quaker Quick 3-Minute Steel Cut Oats and Quaker Chewy Granola Bars. For more information about the latest innovations and recipe ideas, visit www.QuakerOats.com, www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow the brand on Twitter @Quaker.

Fuel Up to Play 60's Inspiration for Parents and Kids to Play
The "Make the Play" contest was a part of Fuel Up to Play 60's overall "For the Love of Play" campaign. The campaign encouraged parents to empower their children to stay active to contribute to a healthier generation. Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation's largest in-school wellness program and creates real transformational changes in schools – leading to millions of students eating healthier and being more physically active in more than 73,000 schools across the country.

About The Quaker® Oats Company 
The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 130 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition. Holding leadership positions in their respective categories, Quaker® Oats, Quaker® Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy® Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more information, please visit www.QuakerOats.com, www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow us on Twitter @Quaker.

About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), which is funded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-dense foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association/Foundation, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2014, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

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1 Mintel Business Market Research Report on Family Leisure Trends, U.S., January 2015

Fuel Up to Play 60 Inquiries: 

Quaker Inquiries:

Scott Wallin

Juliana Sheldon

407-765-1561

310-566-3989

Scott.Wallin@rosedmi.com

Juliana.Sheldon@ZenoGroup.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150420/199672

 

SOURCE PepsiCo