Station Science Kicks Off New Year Promoting Deep Space Exploration

Station Science Kicks Off New Year Promoting Deep Space Exploration: The Expedition 68 crew kicked off the New Year with an array of microgravity research aboard the International Space Station with an eye toward sustaining future crews farther away from Earth.

Philanthropy Today:CareFirst Backs Nutrition Support for the Critically Ill

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield,the largest health insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region,has awarded a 450,000 dollar grant to provide home-delivered entrees,groceries and nutrition counseling to the critically ill through the Food&Friends organization's Groceries-to-Go program.The three year grant will assist clients of the program,who include those with cancer,HIV/AIDS,and other life-challenging illnesses.
With CareFirst's grant,Food&Friends,for the first time in its history,will be able to deliver fresh produce to patients on a regular,year-round basis.
A huge ceremonial check was presented at a special event in which CareFirst employee volunteers prepared and packaged food for the patients in the Food&Friends kitchen.Among those attending the occasion were Washington,D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray;Prince George's County,Maryland County Executive Rushern L. Baker,III;and CareFirst Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Community Affairs Maria Harris Tildon.Craig Shniderman,Executive Director of Food&Friends,accepted the check on behalf of the charity.
CareFirst's Ms.Tildon said supporting Food&Friends is part of CareFirst's regional efforts to promote wellness and enhance access to health care and social services for some of our region's most vulnerable populations.It is the largest corporate operating gift ever received by Food&Friends.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is a non-profit health plan company under statutory regulation.It serves 3.3 million residents of D.C.,Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Kellogg Attacks Pillsbury Nutrition

Kellogg has criticized the nutritional value of Pillsbury's Toaster Strudel breakfast pastry,contrasting it with that of its own Pop-Tarts.The old baker urges the public to make the right choice between baked Pop-Tarts and fried Toaster Strudel.In an ad published in a Sunday newspaper insert,Kellogg cites a number of figures illustrative of its claim that Pillsbury's product is decidedly less healthy than its own.For example,while Pop-Tarts have 5g of total fat,Toaster Strudels have 8g;Pop-Tarts have 1.5g of saturated fat,but Toaster Strudels have 3.5g.Indeed,Pop-Tarts have 0g of trans fat;Toaster Strudels have 1g.
In addition,Kellogg points out,Pop-Tarts contain 0mg cholesterol,while Toaster Strudels have 5mg.And,the Battle Creek,Michigan company adds,Pop-Tarts are a good source of 7 vitamins and minerals,but Toaster Strudels deliver nothing at all.They remind consumers that Pop-Tarts are always baked,never fried.
Pillsbury is a brand of General Mills.Such direct criticism as Kellogg's for Pillsbury is relatively rare in modern advertising.Perhaps the ad is indicative of an especially competitive marketplace,with many consumers turning to cheaper private label brands during the financial crisis.
Kellogg(K),General Mills(GIS)

Coke Aims For Responsibility

As part of its overall image makeover,Coca-Cola is positioning itself as an ally of parents in their commitment to their children's welfare.The company says that is why it aims to have a responsible and helpful presence in schools.Beginning in 2006,Coke points out,it helped institute national school beverage guidelines in the U.S. by voluntarily removing its full-calorie beverages from schools.Since then,their industry has reduced calories provided to U.S. schools by 58%,Coke claims.
Coca-Cola cites its more than 60-year partnership with Boys&Girls Clubs of America as evidence of its commitment to children.The relationship has produced programs such as Triple Play,which has encouraged more than 4,000,000 children to increase their level of physical activity and educated them about proper nutrition.The beverage maker also notes the My Coke Rewards for Schools Program,through which it has outfitted schools with the sports equipment and teaching materials they badly need,registering more than 5,000 schools to date.Coke maintains a website about its activities and motives at livepositively.com.