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Thousands of urban-area school children in nine cities across the country participating in America Scores Soccer Jamborees will be enjoying better-for-you snacks and beverages thanks to Aramark Corp., which provided the product in support of the National Automatic Merchandising Association's (NAMA) Balanced for Life program. At the Jamborees! hundreds of students, parents, teachers and community leaders turn out to watch the children play back-to-back soccer matches and celebrate the importance of literacy and physical activity. The vending industry is a sponsor at nine of the events across the country thanks to the industry's Balanced for Life initiative designed to address the nation's skyrocketing childhood obesity rates by teaching students the importance of a balanced diet and being physically active.

When asked about the donation, Michael J. Oppenheim, executive vice president of Aramark Refreshment Services said in a prepared statement, "These Jamborees! are a great way to educate children and keep them active, and we are happy to do our part to support both the students and our industry's Balanced for Life Health and Wellness Initiative. Our contribution was possible due to our strong relationships with our supplier partners, and I am proud of our people who volunteered their time and energy to make a difference in their communities."

To encourage healthier lifestyles for adults, Aramark offers its Just4U(TM) for Vending program. Based on extensive research into consumers' dining and snacking preferences, Just4U for Vending offers more than 150 items that meet one of four criteria: lower in fat, lower in carbohydrates, lower in calories, or drinks that are bottled water or 100 percent juices.

America Scores is a national non-profit after school program that mixes poetry writing and soccer to educate students about the importance of literacy and a healthy lifestyle. Students have been participating in Jamborees! all spring; the last event was June 16 in New York. For more information, contact Jackie Clark at (301) 987-7113.

For more information about America Scores visit www.americascores.org. For more information about Balanced for Life visit www.balancedforlife.net.