PHILADELPHIA, PA — On Friday, the Shapiro Administration recognized 10 schools as “Governor’s Breakfast Champions” during an event at Lincoln Financial Field, highlighting the success of the second annual Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge.
The initiative, supported by the American Dairy Association North East and joined by Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Avant, cheerleaders, and mascot SWOOP, honored schools that increased student participation in breakfast programs by 8 to 17 percent over the past year. The top-performing school boosted participation by 17 percent.
Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe said the effort demonstrates how innovation helps remove barriers to learning. “Every child deserves to start the day ready to learn, and breakfast is a critical part of that routine,” Rowe said. “The Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge shows that when schools innovate, whether with grab-and-go carts or breakfast in the classroom, we can remove barriers to learning and give students the healthy start to the day they need to succeed”.
The program, launched to encourage sustainable changes in school nutrition, recognized 59 schools overall. The top 10 honorees included Bethlehem-Center Elementary, Colonial Elementary, Minersville Jr./Sr. High, Walton Farm Elementary, North Wales Elementary, Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, and four schools from the Wallenpaupack district.
In the 2024–25 school year, 92.9 million breakfasts were served statewide—an increase of more than 11 million from the prior year. More than 70 million of those meals went to students at risk of hunger or from low-income families.
Governor Josh Shapiro has made universal free breakfast a priority, funding meals for 1.7 million students in each of the past two years. His 2025–26 budget proposal calls for an additional $10.8 million to continue the program.
The Breakfast Challenge is part of broader efforts to ensure nutrition access. John Chrisman, CEO of ADA North East, said, “When students get the school breakfasts they need, they grow up smarter, healthier and stronger. This is exactly the mission of Pennsylvania dairy farmers who have made it their life’s mission to nourish their communities”.
All schools completing the challenge will receive a banner, certificate, and a recipe book showcasing breakfast ideas shared by participants.
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