Jordin Sparks Urges Teens to Help Make a Difference in Themselves and the World

Jordin Sparks Urges Teens to Help Make a Difference in Themselves and the World

The Pop Superstar Dons the Milk Mustache and Launches 'Drink Milk for a Change'

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Jordin Sparks is on a mission to spark some change by inspiring teens to make a difference. Sparks and the National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign have partnered with VH1 Save The Music Foundation to launch the 'Drink Milk for a Change' program. Sparks knows that drinking milk for a change can help make a difference in herself and her world. Drinking nutrient-rich lowfat milk helps teens look and feel their best - with strong bones, lean muscles and healthy hair and skin. And, studies suggest that teens that drink nutrient-rich milk instead of sugary sodas and sports drinks tend to be leaner than teens who drink little or no milk.(1-2)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090923/CG78933)

Sparks is helping to launch the new 'Drink Milk for a Change' campaign to show teens the simple steps they can take to help make a difference in themselves and the world. An easy way is to make a commitment to drink milk and encourage others to do the same by making a Milk Mustache ad at bodybymilk.com. For every Milk Mustache photo created, one dollar will go to support VH1 Save The Music Foundation*. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in American public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education.

"I know that I am in charge of what I eat and drink and my choices affect how I look and feel," said Sparks. "I skip the sugary beverages and reach for milk instead. Milk is full of important nutrients and is something I feel good about putting into my body. I encourage all teens to help make a difference in the world and Drink Milk for a Change."

No one knows better than Sparks that a little step will go a long way and can pay off big time. This average teenager went from American Idol winner to chart-topping singer overnight. As the newest face to don a Milk Mustache in the popular "got milk?" campaign - Sparks joins the ranks of more than 290 actors, athletes, models and musicians who have lent their upper lips in support of milk. Debuting in Seventeen magazine, her ad reads:

I've always had the power to wow an audience. But how do I get fired up to wow myself? I drink lowfat milk. Packed with protein and nutrients, milk gives me the energy to truly shine.

Benefits from Head to Toe

It's important to make smart choices like drinking lowfat milk instead of sugary sodas and sports drinks. What teens choose to drink can affect their body inside and out, including their appearance and how they feel. And, lowfat milk is packed with nine essential nutrients to help teens be their best - offering more nutrition for the dollar than virtually any other beverage.

In fact, research suggests that milk drinkers may have an advantage when it comes to health and nutrition. Not only do teens who drink milk instead of sugary beverages tend to be leaner than those who drink little or no milk, but drinking milk gives teens the calcium and vitamin D and other nutrients they need to help reach their full height potential during the critical bone-building years. And, along with exercise, the protein in milk can help build muscle. Studies show that regularly drinking milk during the growing years is associated with greater height, bone size and bone mineralization, while research has linked skipping milk to reduced height and increased fracture rates.(3-5) In addition to calcium and vitamin D for strong bones, milk also provides important nutrients like vitamin A to support healthy skin and B vitamins to help convert food to energy.

Don a Milk Mustache to Change the World

Are you ready to drink milk for a change? It's easy! Log onto bodybymilk.com and upload a picture of yourself. Choose the type of Milk Mustache you want and the background you like, upload your photo to the gallery and then share with friends on your Facebook page. Every teen that makes their own Milk Mustache ad will be supporting VH1 Save The Music. Make your contribution and encourage others to do the same by making a Milk Mustache at bodybymilk.com.

While you're there, check out Jordin's Milk Mustache ad, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the ad shoot and great tips from Jordin herself on more ways to spark change. Don't forget to grab the Body By Milk widget to stay up to date with the most recent Milk Mustache celebrity news.

References:

1. Murphy MM, et al. Drinking flavored or plain milk is positively
associated with nutrient intake and is not associated with adverse
effects on weight status in US children and adolescents. Journal of the
American Dietetic Association. 2008;108:631-639.
2. Novotny R, et al. Dairy intake is associated with lower body fat and
soda intake with greater weight in adolescent girls. Journal of
Nutrition. 2004;134:1905-1909.
3. Goulding A, et al. Children who avoid drinking cow's milk are at
increased risk for prepubertal bone fractures. Journal of the American
Dietetic Association. 2004; 104:250-253.
4. Rockell JEP, et al. Two-year changes in bone and body composition in
young children with a history of prolonged milk avoidance. Osteoporosis
International. 2005; 16:1016-1023.

5. Fiorito LM, et al. Girls' calcium intake is associated with bone
mineral content during middle childhood. Journal of Nutrition. 2006;
136:1281-1286.

About the National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign

The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. The MilkPEP Board runs the national Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign, a multi-faceted campaign designed to educate consumers about the health benefits of milk. For more information, go to www.whymilk.com. Lowe New York is the creative agency for the national Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign.

About the VH1 Save The Music Foundation

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education. Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has successfully restored and sustained instrumental music programs in 1,600 public schools in more than 100 cities across the country, including Memphis, Houston, Chicago, New York, Denver, Baltimore and Milwaukee. Over the past ten years, various artists and celebrities have shown their devotion to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation by partnering with the organization as they've reached out to struggling school districts across the country. This year, Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Chris Webber, Gavin DeGraw, NE-YO, Johnny Rzeznik, Natasha Bedingfield, The Fray, Tamia, 3 Doors Down and Venus Williams serve as The Foundation's Inaugural Class of Ambassadors, each raising funds and delivering key messages on behalf of The Foundation. To date, VH1 Save The Music has provided more than $43 million in new musical instruments, affecting the lives of more than 1.2 million children. It is The Foundation's renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure that even a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education in the coming decade! To join the movement to First Make Music, Then Make History, visit www.vh1savethemusic.com.

*Up to $50,000. Begins 9/16/09 and ends 12/31/09.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090923/CG78933
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: The Milk Processor Education Program

CONTACT: Ashley Gilmore, +1-312-988-2320, agilmore@webershandwick.com,
for The Milk Processor Education Program

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