community partnerships
American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America
STATE ASSOCIATION & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION GRANT PROGRAM
The Wisconsin Beverage Association (WBA) partners with community leaders to promote healthy & active living and environmental sustainability. With matching grant support from the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA), the WBA has supported the following initiatives, beginning in 2012:
KINSHIP MKE WELLNESS PROGRAM (2025; $30,000): A grant from area bottlers and the ABFHA to Kinship MKE to expand an initiative designed to combat food insecurity in Milwaukee’s Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods through a holistic approach integrating nutrition, education, and social connection. Kinship MKE serves approximately 4,000 individuals annually.
YOUTH INTRAMURAL SOCCER PROGRAM (2024: $30,000): The WBA and local bottlers partnered with La Casa De Esperanza Charter School to establish an intramural soccer program. The school serves some 280 primarily Hispanic and Black children grades K-8 from Waukesha and Milwaukee.
GB PARKS RX (2015-19; $65,000): A collaborative effort between the WBA, Prevea Health, The City of Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department and Live54218 that is based on the concept that linking the healthcare system and public lands, such as local parks, helps to create healthier people and lifestyles. The 2016 GB Parks RX annual report shows that of the 1000 referrals by Prevea pediatricians, 750 youth activity logs were completed in the summer, with minute logged totaling 1,212,480!
SEED TO TABLE (2014: $18,000): The WBA and Madison area bottlers collaborated with the Goodman Community Center to support expansion of its successful Seed to Table program and provide more than 250 middle school youth and their families with hands-on programming in the areas of Urban Agriculture, Culinary Arts, Food Processing and Health and Fitness.
HEALTHY AMERICA FAMILY CHALLENGE (2013; $10,000): The Green Bay Boys and Girls Club partnered with the WBA and local bottlers to conduct the “Healthy America Family Challenge”, an open gym and nutrition-focused program for area families, in partnership with the WBA.
PUBLIC SPACE RECYCLING PILOT (2013): The WBA joined with the Department of Natural Resources and the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin to increase public space recycling of plastic containers. By repurposing 55-gallon plastic syrup barrels as outdoor recycling receptacles for away-from-home locations the summer/fall distributed 340 recycling barrels five special event county fairgrounds and five schools.
GROW YOUR FUTURE (2012; $30,000): The WBA and local beverage companies partnered with the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsin to develop a 12-week summer youth program help participating youth learn the value of nutrition and physical activity and develop business skills that they can apply in their own lives.
HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AWARDS
In partnership with The U.S. Conference of Mayors since 2012, the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) has provided funding to mayors in numerous cities across the country and their innovative local programs that aim to enhance the environmental health and/or well-being of their citizens and communities as a whole.
Wisconsin award recipients are:
GLEANING & GROWING WITH MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PILOT (2025): A 2025 grant proposal from the City of Milwaukee sought to address high obesity rates and food insecurity by intersecting with childhood obesity prevention and environmental health and sustainability initiatives through a series of partnerships made possible by Milwaukee’s Climate & Equity Plan.
FIT YOUTH INITIATIVE (2019; $25,000): The City Madison received a grant for the Goodman Community Center to expand youth access to, club-based recreation in schools and community centers, healthy meals and snacks through the TEENworks youth employment training program, and the Garden Fit Program, which combines gardening, cooking and active outdoor options into a hands-on youth program.
ACTIVE SCHOOLS: CORE 4+ (2015; $25,000): The City of Green Bay received a grant for Live54218 (now Wello) to expand Active Schools: Core 4+, a set of five school-related interventions to students throughout Green Bay.
