Media Contact:
Melissa Baldauf, 310-433-8100, melissa.baldauf@gmail.com

MEDIA ADVISORY
“KIDS IN THE KITCHEN” EVENT AT SAN FRANCISCO’S FERRY BUILDING TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND PROMOTE HEALTHY HABITS IN THE COMMUNITY

What: The Junior League of San Francisco (JLSF) is teaming up with Dacor and Hands On Gourmet to continue its “Kids in the Kitchen” program for JLSF community program children. JLSF’s “Kids in the Kitchen” program is a childhood obesity and nutrition initiative, from the Association of Junior Leagues International, designed to help our communities address the urgent issues surrounding childhood obesity and poor nutrition.

When: Saturday, September 15, 2007
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Dacor Outdoor Cooking Kitchen
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Arcade
Ferry Building
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, California 94111

Details: Hands On Gourmet Executive Chef Stephen Gibbs will fire up healthy twists on Bay Area ‘Back to School’ menus during a fun-filled afternoon where children from JLSF-supported Compass Community Services and Homeless Prenatal Program will be able to roll up their sleeves and cook alongside a team of chefs in Dacor's outdoor teaching kitchen. JLSF volunteers will engage participants in fun activities focused on raising awareness about childhood obesity and poor nutrition. Hands On Gourmet staff will also provide expert advice highlighting healthy habits, tips, and celebrity recipe contributions also found on the “Kids in the Kitchen” website, kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org. Each child will leave the event with a reusable bag filled with healthy snacks, child-friendly information, and recipes related to healthy eating and nutrition.

About the “Kids in the Kitchen” Website
As part of this educational campaign, students can access the website http://kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org which offers a virtual cookbook featuring kid-friendly, nutritious recipes that are grouped into categories including breakfast, lunchbox, dinner, snacks and party treats. The website also provides tips and recipes of the day, as well as quizzes and polls to test kids on their nutritional knowledge. The recipes and tips can be e-mailed to friends, or printed out and pasted on index cards.
kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org

About the Junior League of San Francisco
The Junior League of San Francisco, Inc. (JLSF) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Since its inception in 1911, the JLSF has provided the community with more than 6 million volunteer hours and $22 million in financial support.
www.jlsf.org.

About the Association of Junior Leagues International
The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Formed in 1921, the Association provides continuity and support, guidance and leadership development opportunities to 294 Junior Leagues in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
www.ajli.org

About Dacor
Founded in 1965, DACOR has been a pioneer in the appliance industry, working to redefine the modern kitchen and producing an impressive array of industry firsts. DACOR, which is family-owned and operated, maintains its flair for innovation in every new product launched. The company continually strives to make life in the kitchen cutting edge and luxurious for the consumer. Recently, DACOR introduced an assortment of built-in and stand-alone refrigerators. That entry into the full-size refrigeration category signified a milestone in the company's history, as it made available for the first time a full line of kitchen appliances, all bearing the DACOR brand.

DACOR's complete line of luxury consumer appliances also includes ranges, wall ovens, cooktops, warming ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, ventilation hoods, built-in coffee systems, beverage centers, wine stewards, outdoor grills, digital entertainment center for the kitchen and a collection of gourmet cookware.

For more information on DACOR, its product line and local dealer locations, log on to www.dacor.com, contact Customer Care at (800) 793-0093 or visit the DACOR product showroom at corporate headquarters in Diamond Bar, Atlanta, Chicago or San Francisco.
www.dacor.com

About Hands On Gourmet
Hands On Gourmet is the leading cooking party company in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their award-winning team takes pride in delivering a fun, dynamic, and mouth-watering event every time. Their professional chefs are excited about cooking and love to share their knowledge with guests. Hands On Gourmet works with each client to design the perfect cooking event, whether it is a group of 10 people or 100. Hands on Gourmet’s clients, which range from Fortune 500 companies introducing a new team, to legal office staffs celebrating the holidays, to families marking a special birthday, respond with raves about their experience.

Executive Chef Stephen Gibbs brings 15 years of culinary experience and a unique, high-energy approach to Hands On Gourmet’s events. His career has included work at such acclaimed restaurants as Wolfgang Puck's Postrio, Roland Passot's La Folie, and Jeremiah Tower's Stars. Educated at the California Culinary Academy, his recipes have been featured in CHOW, Relax, and other magazines. He loves to share his expertise, and has been quoted in the New York Times and other newspapers.

Learn more at www.handsongourmet.com or (415) 553-8894.

About CUESA
CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 whose mission is to promote a sustainable food system through the operation of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and its educational programs. CUESA supports regional food producers, especially small sustainable family farms, connects urban residents and regional farmers and food artisans, and educates consumers about sustainable agriculture.

CUESA’s education programs focus on encouraging seasonal eating and cooking, explaining concepts around sustainable agriculture and the importance of supporting local growers. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is a California Certified Farmers Market operated by CUESA at San Francisco’s landmark Ferry Building. The widely acclaimed market connects consumers with their food sources and provides a forum for people to learn about food and agriculture. Each week over 20,000 shoppers learn how their food is grown, who grew it, and why it tastes so good. These urban consumers develop an understanding of their connection to California’s farmland and the issues facing it. Selling directly to the public enables farmers and food artisans to a greater share of the consumer’s food dollar, a critical factor in their ability to stay in business. The market is open year-round on Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and seasonally on Thursdays from 4 to 8 pm and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
www.cuesa.org

Childhood Obesity & Nutrition Initiative
Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Association of Junior Leagues International choose childhood obesity and nutrition as an awareness issue for 2007?

Junior Leagues have been committed to improving the lives of children in their communities for 105 years. This new initiative is an extension of our dedication to healthy living. We hope to provide children and their families with the tools they need to make nutritious eating choices with the belief that the education of our children is the first step to making a lasting change in the reversal of current childhood obesity statistics.

When did the Junior Leagues decide to join the fight against childhood obesity?

Alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nearly one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. The increase in this childhood problem is evident in all four countries where Junior Leagues exist. Educating children on childhood obesity and nutrition is an important, proactive step in the process of raising awareness and attempting to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and reduce its associated health issues. Therefore, Junior Leagues decided in late 2005 to develop an initiative to make a direct impact by engaging in educational activities within our local communities.

Does this initiative relate to any previous nutrition initiatives conducted by Junior Leagues?

Junior Leagues have conducted multiple nutrition programs over the years, starting with the founding of the first Junior League in 1901.

How many Leagues are participating in the initiative?

More than 225 Leagues in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States are participating in the Association of Junior Leagues International “Kids in the Kitchen” initiative to address childhood obesity this year.