QUINCY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TheStop & Shop Supermarket Company partnered with the New England Patriots and United Way to host a “Healthy Kids Summit” yesterday, Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. The Patriots involvement is part of the NFL and United Way’s league-wide Hometown Huddle program and PLAY 60 initiative, bringing awareness to youth health and fitness. The summit drew more than 400 children and adults and featured local community experts and athletes including New England Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty, Stop & Shop’s in-store Nutritionist Julie Menounos, MS, RD, LDN and Caitlin Gibbs, Director of Association Health Innovation, Hockomock YMCA. The summit aimed to equip parents, caregivers and children with the knowledge and skills necessary for kids to lead healthy, fit and balanced lifestyles.

“As a local grocery chain with roots right here in New England, Stop & Shop’s focus has always been to ensure local children are healthy, happy and informed,” said Julie Menounos, nutritionist for Stop & Shop New England Division. “The information provided at the ‘Healthy Kids Summit’ will help families make better decisions when it comes to nutrition, exercise and balanced lifestyles. We’re grateful for our dedicated and involved panelists and partners who help make these summits fun, inspirational and educational.”

The Eastern Massachusetts region, where Stop & Shop got its start nearly 100 years ago, was recently praised for its efforts in fighting childhood obesity, showing a 12.4 percent drop in obesity rates among children under age six, however, statistics from the past five years still show about 30 percent of children in the state are overweight or obese. Through its “Healthy Kids Summits,” Stop & Shop aims to further educate adults and children alike on how to make healthy choices to continue the decline in childhood obesity in Massachusetts and across New England.

The “Healthy Kids Summit” included a trivia game that challenged audience members to show their knowledge on nutrition, exercise and a balanced lifestyle. The panel was comprised of athletes and health and fitness experts. The panel included:

• Devin McCourty, New England Patriots Defensive Back
• Julie Menounos, MS, RD, LD-N, in-store nutritionist at the Stop & Shop Chelmsford, Mass. store
• Caitlin Gibbs, Director of Association Health Innovation, Hockomock YMCA
• Dr. Brian Patel, Associate Chief of the Emergency Care Center (ECC) at Sturdy Memorial Hospital

The trivia was followed by high-energy skills and drills sessions, run by a dozen current New England Patriots players. The event also featured a mini health fair and light refreshments.

For the first time, Stop & Shop is working alongside the New England Patriots as part of the NFL’s Hometown Huddle, a partnership between United Way and NFL since 1999, with NFL teams across the country participating in a variety of hands-on community service projects. As part of the partnership, Patriots Special Teams Captain Matthew Slater is recruiting volunteers for United Way to read, tutor and mentor to young people in the region as the Patriots’ representative of Team NFL/United Way.

“I had a great time running around today with the kids at the Healthy Kids Summit,” said New England Patriots Defensive Back Devin McCourty. “I really enjoy being out here as a role model, showing kids what I do to stay active and healthy.”

For more information on the event and about Stop & Shop’s health and wellness programs visit www.stopandshop.com.

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC employs approximately 63,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. The company helps support local communities fight hunger, combat childhood cancer and promote general health and wellness – with emphasis on children’s educational and support programs. In its commitment to be a sustainable company, Stop & Shop is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and EPA’s Smart Way program; has been awarded LEED (EB) certifications for 54 of its existing stores; and has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores. Stop & Shop is an Ahold company. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com or www.facebook.com/stopandshop.

About Hometown Huddle

Since 1999, NFL teams have participated in a variety of hands-on community service projects, known collectively as Hometown Huddle. The NFL-United Way Hometown Huddle is a league-wide day of service designed to bring awareness and impact to the issue of youth health and fitness. During Hometown Huddle NFL players, coaches and leadership participate in a variety of youth fitness projects in different NFL cities across the country on the same day.

About Celebrate Volunteerism

The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit entity created by the Kraft family to support charitable and philanthropic agencies throughout New England. This support comes in the form of direct grants and the donation of signed memorabilia to a variety of charitable causes, and from Patriots players who offer their direct support by appearing at charity functions throughout the year. The Foundation’s primary goal is to support programs that aid the youth and families of New England while underscoring the Kraft family’s deep commitment to philanthropic activities in the community. Over the past 19 years, the Foundation has made millions of dollars in donations to thousands of non-profit organizations throughout New England and has partnered with numerous community groups, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, the United Way, the Greater Boston Food Bank and a host of other New England charities. The Foundation actively supports non-profit groups focusing on health, education, youth fitness and community enrichment while also implementing its own programs in those areas of focus. In seasons to come, the Foundation’s Celebrate Volunteerism initiative aims to recognize deserving volunteers and inspire others to follow Myra Kraft's example of becoming a lifelong volunteer. For more information about Celebrate Volunteerism visit www.patriots.com/community.