Mahalo!

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The 2019 O.C.E.A.N Health Fest was held this past Saturday, May 4th, at Kapalama Elementary School. The event was hosted by our Foundation’s President and Hawaii resident, Michael Bennett, and highlighted the Farm to Preschool Education (ECE) Program in an effort to help children understand what nutritious food looks like & where it comes from.

“We are starting by being organic… What is organic and nutritious in Hawaii. We find ways, avocados, papayas, any type of fruit… The taro, you know… Doing poi. All these different things we are trying to bring back to the kids and make sure they attach their culture to the way they eat,” said Bennett.

Our O.C.E.A.N. Health Fest is committed to educating children and their families about the importance of physical activity and making healthy food choices to improve their overall well being. We believe every family has the capability to lead a healthy, active and productive lifestyle—the driving force for our work at The Bennett Foundation.

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Recently, in partnership with The Bennett Foundation’s Hawaii Farm to School program, preschool students from HCAP’s Head Start program had the opportunity to learn about the importance of clean and nutritious food through a tasting activity featuring coconut milk and Poi – a staple food in Hawaiian cuisine made from the stem of the taro plant. The children worked with their families to create a smoothie recipe, selecting and learning how to wash the ingredients they wished to include.  

The Bennett Foundation, HCAP and the Ala Wai Elementary School value integrity, inclusion, education and leadership. We strongly believe in the benefits of leading healthy and active lifestyles and are committed in our efforts to enhancing the lives of children by offering programming that encourages learning, discovery and personal growth.  

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On March 11, Michael was invited to Princeton University for the Sports, Race, and Society lecture series, the goal of which is to build a connection between African American studies and the Princeton athletics department. Throughout his conversation with the chair of the Department of African American Studies, Bennett addressed topics of inequality and the NFL as a platform to fight social justice causes such as women’s rights and Black Lives Matter.  

These issues are at the very core of The Bennett Foundation and what it stands for. We are dedicated in our pursuit of making a lasting and positive impact on the well-being of those who may not have adequate resources or the knowledge to do so for themselves. Health and sports go hand in hand and The Bennett Foundation believes in providing – through the development of nutrition, social equity and sports programming – the opportunities necessary for all underserved children and their families to lead successful and fulfilling lives.

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We recently had the opportunity to learn about the sustainable farming practices of Keiki and Plow – an organic, family-run farm in Hawaii – working to educate youth and their families about the importance of healthy nutrition.  

Along with Keiki and Plow, The Bennett Foundation was joined by early childhood schoolteachers focused on helping students learn about the many benefits of proper nutrition, what healthy food looks like and where it comes from. In addition, we learned about how human behavior influences the land, plants and animals that help sustain us.  

Education goes a long way in ensuring that children and their families are empowered to improve the health and well-being of one another. We value the relationships we’ve developed with organizations such as Keiki and Plow, who are passionate about providing opportunities for children to learn and lead healthy lifestyles.

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Our nation’s Black History Month (February), is an attempt at letting our country hear, read and discover our mutual history, and our contributions that have made America the great nation it is today.  

Black History Month presents an important opportunity, not only to commemorate the countless achievements of African-Americans and their role in shaping our history and culture, but also to reflect on where we are as a nation, and how we can continue to grow together. Black History Month is a time to learn from previous mistakes and aspire to a time when the only race that defines us is the human race. 

The Bennett Foundation recognizes the importance of celebrating the impactful roles African-Americans have had throughout our nation’s history. We support all those who have overcome adversity and empowered others to foster change in their communities, no matter how small. Black History Month is a celebration – a time to acknowledge that greatness isn’t achieved in hours, days, or weeks. It takes confidence, years of perseverance, and support from one another. So, embrace your culture, celebrate your history, and be a positive influence on those who surround you!

(Photo from Roots of Fight)

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At first glance, the success rate for those resolutions don’t exactly inspire. But researchers say that despite the tough success rates, making a resolution is one of the best ways to make a change, particularly if realistic goals are set in the first place.  

Wanting to change and better yourself is a beautiful and inspiring thing. One of our core key values at The Bennett Foundation is to direct all efforts toward ensuring that children and families make the right changes to improve their health. It starts with setting a simple and realistic goal today. For example, take something specific like cutting sugar or carbs out of your diet for the next week. Our nutrition focused blog posts will help you stay on track to complete those dieting goals. The wonderful thing about the New Year is it stands before us like the first chapter to a new book. You are in total control of becoming the best version of yourself.

Take the right steps to complete those New Year’s Resolutions with The Bennett Foundation!

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A charitable donation isn’t the kind of holiday gift that will end up on a shelf or in a closet in a few months — it will have long-lasting effects in bettering the lives of those in need.  

The Bennett Foundation asks for contributions to help create and improve programs to promote positive and healthy habits to families. Studies show charitable contributions improve the lives of those receiving and can also leave a positive impact on the donor. It has been proved that people who make charitable donations are happier and that their positive mood can even have a significant effect on their overall health.

Many children associate the Holiday Season as “the Season for Getting,” but we forget to teach the youth that it is actually “the Season of Giving.” Understanding the importance of giving back and what it truly means doesn’t end with giving away old toys or hand-me-downs of old clothes. Sharing the experience of donating to charity with your children shows them from a young age that they can make positive changes in the world. It’s all about the youth!  

Knowing where your donations are going is important too. At the Bennett foundation, we try to be as transparent as possible with our supporters and fans. We’d love to have you join our team to help make our communities better! With your help, we can continue to organize events, foster partnerships with other organizations and continue to develop in-school nutrition programs to connect children with lasting information and healthy food to ensure our communities are taken care of. Finding funding is a vital component of what we are able to accomplish. The donors of the Bennett Foundation help make our work possible and without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Thank you!

Together, we can change the world, and you can help. 

I am ready to help.

Happy Holidays from The Bennett Foundation!

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Thanksgiving has come and gone as it does every year. The dishes you’ve been craving all season long are finally passed around the table, and before you know it your plate is piled up with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes — all smothered with a heaping portion of gravy. It’s a masterpiece, yes. But it’s also a single meal that can easily double or triple your calorie intake on Thanksgiving. In fact, according to the Calorie Control Council the average Thanksgiving dinner is an impressive 4,500 calories! 

Burning off the calories that come with the holiday that is all about family and food can be challenging. The Bennett Foundation is here to provide three fun, simple and different ways to burn off that Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Grab your favorite hiking buddy and hit the trail for some calorie burning solitude. To get the most bang for your buck, find a trail with plenty of elevation gains. The added work will burn more calories than on a flat trail and you will likely earn a breathtaking view at the top.
2. Walk more places! There is truly nothing like fresh air. “Walking is the least expensive exercise modality to start and maintain,” says Irv Rubenstein, exercise physiologist and founder of Scientific Training and Exercise Prescription Specialists (S.T.E.P.S.) in Nashville, TN.
3. Help clean around the house. Not only will your family will thank you, but your body will also do for burning off some calories. Did you know that an hour of vacuuming and vigorous cleaning will shed you 200 calories? If not, now you do!

The Bottom Line

You don’t have to do too much. Burning off calories doesn’t always mean heading to the gym and dedicating all of your time there. With The Bennett Foundation, there’s always a fun way to stay active and in control of your health and wellness!

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“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth 

Well, what exactly is gratitude? As defined by dictionary.com gratitude is, “the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.” 

There is a great association with National Gratitude Month and well the month that has Thanksgiving… but why share gratitude and appreciation only one day of the year? Show it and share it every day. 

Showing appreciation only takes a few seconds, but the effects can last much longer than that, or at least resonate well beyond the moment that you show and share gratitude. But showing gratitude is more than saying, “thank you.” Exercising daily gratitude gives us a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Research shows that practicing daily gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress and drastically improve our overall level of wellbeing. One of the many goals of The Bennett Foundation is to improve the health and wellbeing of children and their families.  

The Bennett Foundation challenge you to use the remainder of November as a great opportunity to see if you can improve your life by getting more in touch with gratitude! 

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