A $50,000 donation will allow Mary's Center participants to have access to better nutrition resources. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
Mary’s Center announced today that the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) and the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Beverage Association have made a $50,000 contribution to establish a Teaching Kitchen at its new Silver Spring location. The Teaching Kitchen is part of an initiative projected to impact more than 15,000 Montgomery County residents to live healthy and balanced lifestyles.
Through the Teaching Kitchen, Mary’s Center will provide comprehensive health promotion, disease prevention programs, nutritional education workshops, and hands-on cooking classes. The Teaching Kitchen will also offer year-round nutritional initiatives and physical activities for Montgomery County residents.
“We are thankful for our long-standing partnership with the ABFHA and the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Beverage Association for their commitment to helping our Montgomery County participants live healthier lives,” said Maria Gomez, Mary’s Center president and CEO. “The Teaching Kitchen will be an important tool for us to help reduce the alarming rates of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity in the county.”
Ellen Valentino, executive vice president of Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Beverage Association, said the Teaching Kitchen “will have a lasting impact on the community by building awareness among residents of the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.”
“We are all in this together,” Valentino said. “For years, our companies have dedicated themselves to providing consumers with more choices, smaller portion sizes, and fewer calories than ever before so that families can make the best choices. Living a balanced lifestyle is paramount to good health.”
The Mary’s Center’s Social Change Model integrates healthcare, education, and social services and this new initiative exemplifies the model’s objectives. Mary’s Center has seen significant success among participants from multiple-generations, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds in the District of Columbia, and is optimistic that its new Montgomery County site will see similar results.
“The Teaching Kitchen provides an incredible opportunity for families and residents of Montgomery County to learn about how healthy eating and exercise can result in long-term benefits,” Gomez said. “Partners like the ABFHA and the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Beverage Association have made a significant commitment that will go a long way in our community.”
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About Mary’s Center
Founded in 1988, Mary’s Center is a Community Health Center that provides a model of care including healthcare, education, and social services to nearly 50,000 individuals from 50 countries through eight locations in Washington, DC and Maryland. Using a holistic, multipronged approach, Mary’s Center helps each participant access individualized services and find a path towards wellness, family stability, educational success, and economic opportunities. For more information please visit us at www.maryscenter.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
About the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America
The American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America seeks to make a significant contribution to the health of local communities by providing grants to support charitable programs at community organizations that work to advance both the physical health of their local citizens and the environmental health of their communities. For more information please visit http://www.beveragefoundation.org and www.balanceus.org. | 
