DEERFIELD, Ill., Sept. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Mondelēz International Foundation is helping to give at-risk middle school students across the United States exciting opportunities through a new partnership with After-School All-Stars (ASAS), an innovative organization with a mission to help students succeed in school and in life.

Through the partnership, After-School All-Stars will expand its after-school program's ability to offer robust nutrition education, cooking classes, urban gardening and other healthy lifestyle opportunities to middle school students, and track students' progress towards achieving universal metrics through its newly established program evaluation department. This is the Foundation's first ever partnership with a program geared specifically towards middle school students. The program will reach students and families in more than 150 schools in twelve national markets throughout the United States.        

After-School All-Stars President and CEO Ben Paul said, "Research shows that heathy lifestyle habits lay the foundation for student success inside and outside of the classroom. We are grateful to the Mondelēz International Foundation for its support and are thrilled that our nutrition, cooking and other health and fitness programs will now serve even more students. Together, we'll help students develop life-long habits which will improve their health, wellbeing and success."

"We've had tremendous success reaching students during the school day, but our new partnership with After-School All-Stars sets the stage for us to carry well-being and healthy lifestyle messages to afterschool time," said Nicole Robinson, President of the Mondelēz International Foundation. "The After-School All-Stars model offers an unique opportunity to get underserved middle school students excited about good nutrition, physical activity and nutritious snacks – which helps give them the energy to complete homework assignments and be refreshed for the next school day."

This announcement is part of the Foundation's multi-year, $50 million commitment to bring nutrition education, active play and fresh foods to children and their families in the United States, Mexico and South Africa. According to a 2014 Lancet report, the United States and Mexico have the highest rates of obesity in the world; South Africa is not far behind with the highest rates of obesity and overweight in sub-Saharan Africa.  These new programs bring global community partners together in an effort to create school environments that allow children and families to adopt lifelong healthy habits.

This new partnership supports Mondelēz International's Call For Well-being, which is focused on four key areas where the company can make the greatest impact: mindful snacking, sustainability, community and safety. To learn more, please visit: www.mondelezinternational.com/well-being.

About Mondelēz International

Mondelēz International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) is a global snacking powerhouse, with pro forma 2014 revenue of more than $30 billion. Creating delicious moments of joy in 165 countries, Mondelēz International is a world leader in biscuits, chocolate, gum, candy and powdered beverages, with billion-dollar brands such as Oreo, LU and Nabisco biscuits; Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate; Trident gum and Tang powdered beverages. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, NASDAQ 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.

About After-School All-Stars

Founded in 1992, After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is a leading national provider of year-round, school-based, comprehensive afterschool programs. The organization's mission is to keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. Every school day, students in low-income communities have access to free programs that offer academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health and fitness activities. Nearly 75,000 children from 15 U.S. regions benefit: ASAS serves Atlanta, Chicago, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, North Texas, Ohio, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, South Florida and Washington, D.C, and starting in fall 2015, Cleveland and Tampa. For more information, visit www.as-as.org

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