WASHINGTON — They may represent completely different sports, but when it
comes to the health and fitness of America’s youth, these athletes play on the
same team. Today, MVP baseball slugger Albert Pujols joins fellow Milk Mustache
athletes, NBA All-Star and Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams and gold medal
gymnast Shawn Johnson, as part of the Milk Mustache “Dream Team” to inspire
teens to “Drink Milk for a Change.” They know that drinking milk can help make a
difference for their bodies and now through a special community service
opportunity in their world.
Lowfat milk has nine essential nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D for
strong bones and protein for lean muscle. Studies suggest being active, eating
right and drinking three glasses of fat free or lowfat milk each day may help
maintain a healthy weight.
Pujols’ ad, which reads, “Want muscle? got milk?” reinforces the importance of
milk’s high quality protein. Along with regular exercise, protein can help build
and maintain lean muscle essential for athletes like Pujols to perform their
best on the field.
“For me, I drink lowfat chocolate milk after a long day on the field,” said
Pujols, who was on hand to unveil his new ad at the St. Louis Cardinals spring
training facility in Jupiter, Fla. “It’s a natural source of protein plus it has
carbs so it helps me rebuild and refuel my tired muscles after being active.
It’s an important part of my recovery routine to get ready for the next nine
innings, season after season.”
Pujols, Williams and Johnson, who each appear in their own “got milk?” print
ads, school banners and posters, join the ranks of more than 290 other athletes,
actors, models and musicians who have lent their upper lips in support of milk
and its many health benefits.
Get Ready to Change the World With Milk
The “dream team” of athletes is calling on teens to get active, drink milk for a
positive change in themselves and make a difference for others. They have teamed
up with the “got milk?” Campaign to each champion a worthy project that’s close
to their hearts and that will help make a positive change in local communities.
Teens can help select which project will be completed by voting online at
www.BodyByMilk.com by April 30. One lucky teen and three friends will even win
the chance to work alongside professional athletes at the winning project.
“Project BUILD” In northwest and south central Georgia, flooding forced many
families out of their homes. Just like Hurricane Katrina, it’s a disaster that
shocked and saddened millions of Americans including Albert Pujols, who is
calling on teens to help him lift one family of flood victims from this region
out of homelessness and into a new home built by hand from the ground up.
“Project REPLENISH” Millions of kids nationwide aren’t fortunate enough to
have safe places to play and exercise. Deron Williams wants to change that one
community at a time. That’s why he’s urging teens to get behind his project to
help build an amazing new basketball court in San Antonio, Texas, that will help
kids develop healthy exercise habits. San Antonio has one of the highest rates
of obesity in the Unites States.
“Project SHINE” Shawn Johnson understands the importance of a good education
but she knows that many kids aren’t as fortunate as she in having the support or
resources to provide them with a bright future. That’s why she wants teens to
back her in helping kids in Detroit, Mich. shine from the inside out by
renovating a school or learning center to give them a brighter future. High
unemployment throughout the country, including Detroit, has prioritized the need
for stronger education.
While online, teens can follow in the footsteps of their favorite celebrities
and show how they’re drinking milk for a change by creating their own Milk
Mustache ads… and even share them with their friends on Facebook. What’s more,
teens can check out the new celebrity ads, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes ad
shoot footage and exclusive interviews with the athletes.
Change Your Beverage. Change Your Body. Change Your Performance
Pujols, Williams and Johnson know that what they eat and drink can make a
difference in their performance and their bodies and they know the important
role that milk can play for active adults and teens, too. Milk is a natural
source of high-quality protein, which, when combined with exercise, can help
BUILD lean muscle; it also has carbohydrates, protein, electrolytes and fluids
to help teens refuel and REPLENISH after exercise; and drinking milk can help
teens SHINE thanks to essential nutrients like vitamin A for healthy skin.
What’s more, drinking milk gives teens the calcium, vitamin D and other
nutrients they need during the critical bone-building years.
About Body By Milk
Body By Milk is part of the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign, a
multi-faceted education program focused on the health benefits of milk. The
campaign is managed by the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) in
Washington, D.C., which is funded by the Nation’s milk processors, who are
committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. For more information, go to
www.BodyByMilk.com. Deutsch, A Lowe and Partners Company, is the creative agency
for the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign.
About The NBA
NBA Cares is the league’s social responsibility initiative that builds on the
NBA’s long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States
and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and
players have donated more than $115 million to charity, provided more than one
million hours of hands-on service to communities around the world, and created
more than 440 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. NBA Cares
works with internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support
education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including:
KaBOOM!, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, UNICEF, the
Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Malaria
and Tuberculosis.
Source:
Body by Milk