Rockville, Md. – Brookhaven Elementary School has been selected as the Montgomery County winner of the Maryland Breakfast Challenge for its successful implementation of an alternative breakfast model that significantly increased breakfast participation at the school. As a winner, the school received a $1,000 check from No Kid Hungry Maryland.

“Brookhaven is excited to have won this award for the second year in a row. I’m proud of our children for making healthy choices. Eating breakfast gets their day of learning off on the right foot. Thank you Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry Maryland for your partnership!”

“Schools across Maryland have demonstrated incredible creativity and persistence in finding ways to overcome the barriers that have kept too many kids from getting the breakfast they need each day,” said David Sloan, director of No Kid Hungry Maryland. “From Saint Mary’s to Baltimore to Montgomery counties, schools have dug in and made breakfast a part of the school day.”

During the 2015-2016 school year, schools across Maryland implemented innovative solutions to connect more students with breakfast and win prizes in the Maryland Breakfast Challenge. Across the state, 231 schools took the Challenge and made sure more students had the opportunity to start their day with a healthy school breakfast.

Statewide, an overwhelming three out of five public school educators say they have children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry because they’re not getting enough to eat at home, according to the 2015 Hunger In Our Schools Report. Many educators say that traditional school breakfast – served in the cafeteria, early in the morning before the bell rings – isn’t always effective. No Kid Hungry Maryland has promoted a solution that works: breakfast served as part of the regular school day. For classroom teachers, students who are well-fed are better able to focus, function and achieve academic success.

The Maryland School Breakfast Challenge Partners included the No Kid Hungry Maryland, the Maryland State Department of Education, Action for Healthy Kids, Family League of Baltimore, Maryland Hunger Solutions, Maryland State Education Association and the Mid Atlantic Dairy Association.