The NFL Foundation has committed more than $1 million to expand the NFL FLAG program done in partnership with Fuel Up to Play 60, which was founded in part by America’s dairy farmers. The funding will impact 1,800 schools throughout the country.

The funding will make it possible to reach 1 million more students in 10 cities across the country beginning next school year. Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation’s largest in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the NFL and National Dairy Council, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NFL FLAG provides children of all ages the opportunity to be active and learn the basics of football in a fun environment.

The partnership between the NFL and Fuel Up to Play 60 aims to give children more opportunities to be physically active, and offer teachers and school administrators the equipment, curriculum, training and recognition they need to support physical education.

“The dairy checkoff’s partnership with the NFL is based on our mutual goal of helping children lead a healthier life through improved nutrition, which includes access to dairy foods, and more physical activity,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy farmer and chairman of Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff. “This is another example of how we can come together and make a difference in schools around the country.”

Results from the program’s first year of NFL FLAG show that 98 percent of teachers reported using the kits in a physical education class for more than one semester and 47 percent are using them during after-school activities.