Healthy Snacks Yield Big Bucks

As with any new endeavor, transition isn't easy...but 10 months into our LEAF Grant, I'm happy to report that Venice High School is doing just fine with the elimination of unhealthy snacks and beverages. I hope the following data will help assist in the passage of Marlene Canter's Obesity Prevention Motion on October 28th, 2003.

Snack and Beverage Sales in the Venice High School Student Store:

May 2002: (with soda and junk food)	$6,163.00
May 2003: (with only healthy snacks and beverages)	$7,358.00

Financial Update

January* 2004:	$6,271.48
February 2004:	$9,732.28
March 2004:	$12,033.33

* (only 3 weeks due to winter break)

To further assist the district, a snack list of over 50 items that meet CA SB19 Standards can be viewed at: http://www.nojunkfood.org/vendors/healthy_snack_list.html

We also continue to have healthy fundraisers, such as our Celebrity Basketball Game, which brought in close to twice as much $ in one night, than ALL of the up front cash that Coke Inc. paid us for an ENTIRE YEAR.

New fundraising opportunities continue to arise. Our band has just decided to partake in a unique floral arrangement fundraising opportunity from Kids Flowers and our Booster's Club seized the opportunity to start selling fruit smoothies at our football games. Other VHS Club fundraisers include:

Spaghetti Dinners
Pancake Breakfasts
Car Washes
Community Card Sales
Healthy Snack Sales
Arts and Crafts Sales

Battle of the Bands
Community Music Performances
Holiday Gift Wrapping
Game Show Audience
Seasonal "Message Grams"
Product Donation Sales
and more...

As educators, we tell our students to use their critical thinking skills and to "think outside of the box". Well, it's time for us to practice what we preach. As you face the critics, please keep in mind that VHS is a Title I school, with over 80% minority population. We are representative of a typical LAUSD school. And, of course, the bottom line:

This is an issue of HEALTH not $.

As for academics, our API (Academic Performance Index) goal has just been exceeded for the first time in years! And as for the fear of a crumbling athletic program without junk food sales.... our football team is UNDEFEATED this year!!!! 7-0

Those healthy Gondos are looking good!

Thank you for your support!

Jacqueline Domac
Chair, Health Department
Coordinator, LEAF Grant
Venice High School, LAUSD
Policy Consultant, CA Center for Public Health Advocacy

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