This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A new push to boost Utah's participation in school breakfast kicked off Tuesday with, naturally, a school breakfast.
Former NFL players Luther Elliss, who starred at the University of Utah, and Mark Koncar, who as born in Murray, joined other leaders as Granite Park Junior High played host to a breakfast and an assembly.
Utah ranks lowest in the nation in student participation in school breakfast. At Granite Park, a quarter of students eligible for breakfast participate, according to a news release.
The program "It Starts With School Breakfast" aims to change that, with help from Fuel Up to Play 60, backed by the National Football League and National Dairy Council in concert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, states the release. Other supporters include Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign and Dean Foods.
"The campaign," the release adds, "is designed to empower students and families to lead change in their own schools and communities, increase school breakfast awareness and participation, and provide resources to help all kids start each day with the fuel they need to help them succeed."