Chef Tyler Wiard, culinary director for all four of Elway's restaurants and one of the contestants on this season's Top Chef, has taken on an advocacy mission: he became a spokesperson for passing 'Breakfast after the Bell,' a school breakfast initiative that is currently in front of the legislature. Wiard's involvement is channeled through the Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry Colorado groups, which support this bill.
"As a chef, I understand the importance of nutritious food in people's lives and am keenly aware of what a square meal means for children. I became involved with Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry Colorado—a partnership between Hunger Free Colorado, Share Our Strength and Gov. John Hickenlooper–because I simply can't stand the reality that children in our state go hungry," Wiard said of his involvement with these organizations.
The 'Breakfast after the Bell' (HB-1006) legislation which would require every school with 70 percent or more students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch to offer breakfast to each student in the school. 'Breakfast After The Bell' was discussed in front of Colorado's House Education Committee and passed by a vote of 11-2.
Why is this important to chef Wiard? "Simply put—hungry kids can't learn. The Breakfast After the Bell legislation will make sure that our most vulnerable kids start the day with a healthy meal so they can learn and grow," he said. "My hope is that our elected officials will support this important legislation," Wiard added.
For more information on this initiative, go to www.hungerfreecolorado.org.
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