Common Threads Gears-Up For Annual Summer Camp

Celebrity Chef Art Smith and ConAgra Foods® Foundation Give Kids Fun and Skills for a Lifetime

CHICAGO – June 23, 2009 – Instead of gathering to roast marshmallows over a campfire this summer, more than 160 kids from Chicago’s north, south and west neighborhoods will unite in the kitchen for a unique summer camp experience organized by Common Threads, a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization founded by Chef Art Smith of restaurant Table Fifty-Two. Now in its second year, the camp offers children ages eight- to 11-years an opportunity to receive hands-on instruction in cooking, gardening and movement while learning about diversity, nutrition, and physical well-being. A grant from the ConAgra Foods Foundation allows children who participate in the free or reduced school lunch program to attend the camp for free. Washburne Culinary Institute at Kennedy King College is generously donating their space for the six-week program.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for children who come from Englewood, Lakeview, and Pilsen to come together every day and open up emotionally to the counselors and embrace the other campers they didn’t know before,” said Linda Novick O’Keefe, executive director, Common Threads. “Food really does bring people together and is an exceptional way to teach and inspire us all.”

In the kitchen, Common Threads’ chef instructors will guide the children through ethnic recipes that highlight different countries and incorporate fresh vegetables from the organization’s kid-planted World Garden. Students will also be able to visit the garden in Kenwood Park on 49th and Dorchester twice a week to plant and harvest vegetables, fruits and herbs. In the studio, students will learn movement through yoga, classic ballroom and traditional African dances. The dance elements give children an appreciation of diversity, the richness of their communities and a sense of cultural history while developing a better sense of coordination, muscle control and overall physical fitness. While in the classroom, campers will have an opportunity to explore the world as they work on art projects from different cultures and learn about nutrition and healthy living.

“The ConAgra Foods Foundation is committed to ensuring kids have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in school and live a healthy life, and that’s why we’ve partnered with Common Threads for a second year of summer camp,” said Kori Reed, executive director, ConAgra Foods Foundation. “From hands-on cooking classes to new cultural experiences, Common Threads takes an innovative approach to nourish young bodies and minds today, so they can flourish tomorrow.”

The camp offers two, three-week sessions beginning either June 22 or July 13, and is open to children eight- to 11-years. There is no cost to families who participate in the free or reduced-cost school lunch program. For all other children the cost is $150 per week. For more information or to register, please visit, www.commonthreads.org.

About Common Threads

Common Threads’ mission is to educate children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, and to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking. In addition to the Summer Camp program, Common Threads provides after-school programming to children eight to 12 years old who participate in the free or reduced lunch program, For more information on Common Threads and their programs, please visit www.commonthreads.org.

About ConAgra Foods Foundation

The ConAgra Foods® Foundation is leading the charge to raise awareness of the more than 12 million children in America who are at risk of hunger and to do something about it. The Foundation pursues sustainable solutions to end child hunger and teach kids about nutrition so that children can get the nourishment they need today to flourish tomorrow. Through the Nourish Today, Flourish Tomorrow community involvement platform, the Foundation is committed to building a community of people who are passionate about ending child hunger and teaching kids and families about nutrition. The Foundation invests in national and local partnerships with high-impact, not-for-profit organizations, such as Common Threads, which take an innovative approach to addressing needs in the core areas of hunger and nutrition education. To learn more about the Foundation and how to join us in the fight to help kids progress from nourish to flourish, please visit www.nourishkidstoday.org.

Contact Information:
Jennifer Pinto
jennifer@commonthreads.org
312-329-2501