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Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The Zbar Bake Sale Collection Features Two New Flavors and Helps Raise Awareness of KABOOM! Partnership Focusing on Kids' Access to Outdoor Play
Approximately 30 million kids in the United States lack nearby outdoor places to play, inspiring the Zbar brand partnership with KABOOM! EAST HANOVER, N.J., May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zbar, the energy snack bar for kids, is kicking off the Spring season with the launch of the Bake Sale Collection, featuring two delicious new flavors: Cinnamon Roll and Cookies 'n Creme. Inspired by home baking, Cinnamon Roll tastes like all the fun that Saturday mornings bring in a bar, while Cookies 'n Creme offers a delicious twist on a family favorite. With a soft-baked texture, Zbar energy snack bars are made for busy, adventure-fueled days—perfect for park outings and snack breaks before sports practice. The Zbar Bake Sale Collection also highlights the brand's partnership with KABOOM!, a nonprofit organization committed to ending playspace inequity. According to a study from the University of Michigan, kids in the U.S. get only 7 minutes of unstructured outdoor play time per day, on average.1 In addition, the Trust for Public Land found that nearly 30 million kids live more than a 10-minute walk from the nearest park.2 As the brand that believes in helping fuel kids to discover their world, Zbar announced a two-year, $1 million partnership with KABOOM! in July 2024 to help build nature-based, sustainable playgrounds for communities nationwide. The initiative supports KABOOM!'s climate-forward playground design by incorporating natural elements like trees and shade structures, and replacing heat-retaining materials with cooler, sustainable alternatives. Together, the Zbar brand and KABOOM! want to create new nature-friendly playgrounds in communities where they're needed most to help give more kids the opportunity to spend time playing outdoors–even as the summer starts to heat up. 'At Zbar, we're committed to crafting quality snacks for kids that help fuel active exploration,' said Valerie Van Arkel, Director of Marketing for Zbar at Mondelēz International. 'The delicious new Cinnamon Roll and Cookies 'n Creme flavors in our Bake Sale Collection deliver the delightful taste kids want for their warm-weather adventures, while highlighting the work we are doing with KABOOM! to help connect more kids to nature and outdoor play.' 'The joy of outdoor play is something that every child needs to experience,' said Lysa Ratliff, Chief Executive Officer of KABOOM!. 'In partnership with Zbar, we will create eight new playgrounds that are nature exploration areas, helping more than 15,000 kids develop lasting memories outdoors. Together, we're making great progress toward our goals of fostering a more sustainable playground industry and helping increase the number of kids who can get outside to play.' Designed to provide parents with fuel their kids will love, Zbar energy snack bars are non-GMO, USDA Organic certified and a good source of fiber with 11g-13g whole grains per bar. Zbar Cinnamon Roll and Cookies 'n Creme flavors are available at all major national retailers in packs of 6 and 12. References About CLIF For more than 30 years, CLIF has crafted delicious food with organic whole grain oats under its CLIF BAR, Zbar, Nut Butter Bar, and LUNA brands. In 2022, CLIF became part of the Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ), portfolio of brands empowering people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenue of approximately $36.4 billion, Mondelēz is leading the future of snacking with other iconic global and local brands such as OREO, RITZ, belVita, LU, and TATE'S BAKE SHOP biscuits and baked snacks, as well as CADBURY DAIRY MILK, MILKA and TOBLERONE chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information about CLIF BAR, please visit CLIF | Mondelēz International, Inc. ( About KABOOM! KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that more than 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. KABOOM! continues to make progress on its 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity through new partnerships with a goal of accelerating efforts in 25 municipal systems toward achieving their mission at scale across the United States. Learn more at or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mondelēz International
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School bus safety bill focused on special education students clears NJ Senate
For the second time in a week, New Jersey lawmakers pushed forward legislation aimed at increasing school bus safety for students with disabilities. The state Senate on Monday unanimously approved S-3447, a bill that would create a 22-member Special Education Transportation Task Force to study reforms. The vote follows a trio of deaths and other safety complaints involving special-education students commuting to and from school in New Jersey, and it comes a week after a Senate committee advanced a separate measure to require video cameras and GPS tracking on buses that transport disabled students. Monday's legislation, approved by a 39-0 vote, is sponsored by senators Kristin Corrado, a Bergen County Republican, and Patrick Diegnan, a Democrat from Middlesex County. It would create a panel of parents, educators, state officials and advocates who will have one year to examine a system that disability groups say is failing New Jersey students and to come up with recommendations for improvements. 'Today's vote represents a big, important step forward in our effort to ensure the safety of students with disabilities. Among other things, this task force would provide a platform for a much-needed conversation about special education transportation – a conversation that should be student-centered and family-driven,' said Paul Aronsohn, the state's ombudsman for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Among other subjects, the task force would examine the training school bus drivers and aides receive and how they handle emergency situations. It would also study whether the education plans drafted for students with disabilities adequately lay out their transportation needs. This legislation follows tragedies like that of East Hanover's Matthew Rossi, a 19-year-old with muscular dystrophy and autism, who was put on a school bus in 2023 and returned home unresponsive. Rossi was pronounced dead at his home soon after that ride. His family spoke out about the tragedy in an effort to spark a public debate on accountability and safety. "I am pleased that the state Senate unanimously passed this bill, which supports our family's core mission of prioritizing the personal safety of our most vulnerable students during transport to and from school, including their unique medical and behavioral needs," Matthew's mother, Anabela Rossi, said in an email. More: Hundreds from NJ disability community rally in Trenton against GOP Medicaid cuts The legislation also "aims to establish greater accountability for the local school boards," she said. "We are grateful to Senators Corrado and Diegnan for their sponsorship on this bill and commitment to this issue." Groups like Disability Rights New Jersey and the New Jersey Education Association, which represents special education teachers, would also have a seat at the table on the new task force. An identical version of the legislation, Assembly bill 4607 will need to pass that chamber before heading to the governor's desk for a signature. This article originally appeared on Special education school bus safety bill clears NJ Senate
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NJ advances bill to improve school bus safety for students with disabilities
Legislation to improve school bus safety for students with disabilities in New Jersey is making its way through the state Legislature, after picking up bipartisan support in a hearing this week. The state Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill Monday to require video cameras and GPS tracking on school buses and more training for school staff and contractors who deal with medically vulnerable special education students. The legislation, S-3858, targets safety gaps brought to light through recent tragedies involving disabled students, including the death of East Hanover's Matthew Rossi, a 19-year-old with muscular dystrophy and autism, who was pronounced dead after a ride home from his Oakland school in 2023. 'Our son, Matthew, was the epitome of courage and perseverance,' said Matthew's mother, Anabela, who testified at the hearing in Trenton. 'His example is our inspiration for the efforts on this bill, which is an important first step in basic, commonsense safeguards, that our most vulnerable students deserve, and establishes accountability by the personnel we entrust their precious lives to.' Rossi's parents have sued the bus contractor and the employer of a nurse and school aide who were on the bus, saying they failed to respond when Matthew choked on his own mucus. The nurse, Emilio J. Rivera of Carlstadt, pleaded guilty last month to criminal neglect and endangerment charges and is awaiting sentencing. It was one of a series of recent incidents involving students with disabilities on Garden State school buses that underscored the urgency for enhanced safety measures. In 2023, 6-year-old Fajr Atiya Williams died on her way to school when she was strangled by her wheelchair harness; in 2022, 16-year-old Landon Goff lost consciousness and choked on his saliva during a bus ride, his family said. The legislation that advanced this week was sponsored by state Senate Republican leader Anthony Bucco, of Morris County, and Middlesex County Democrat Patrick Diegnan. Under the proposal, school bus staff members would be required to call 911 in emergencies that threaten the life of a student. Buses carrying children with disabilities also would need to be equipped with video cameras, communication devices and GPS. The bill also requires additional training for school bus contractors who interact with students with disabilities. More: NJ school bus system problems mount. New safety chief hired but state mum on details 'Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, especially those with disabilities, is of utmost importance,' Bucco said in a statement. 'This legislation is a critical step in making sure that school bus personnel are properly equipped to respond swiftly in life-threatening situations and providing our students and their families with the peace of mind that help will be on the way when it's needed most.' The only caveat came from Jonathan Pushman, director of governmental relations at the New Jersey School Boards Association, who expressed concerns about the financial implications of the bill. Installing the required equipment on school buses to comply with the bill could cost between $15 million and $52 million, the association estimated. Though not questioning the need for reform, Pushman urged legislators to find money in the state budget to help local districts afford the new measures. The bill, approved on a 5-0 vote by the Education Committee, now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. A companion measure is also before the Assembly Education Committee. The legislation must still pass the full Senate and Assembly and be signed by the governor to become law. This article originally appeared on NJ advances school bus safety bill for special education students
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NJ advances bill to improve school bus safety for students with disabilities
Legislation to improve school bus safety for students with disabilities in New Jersey is making its way through the state Legislature, after picking up bipartisan support in a hearing this week. The state Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill Monday to require video cameras and GPS tracking on school buses and more training for school staff and contractors who deal with medically vulnerable special education students. The legislation, S-3858, targets safety gaps brought to light through recent tragedies involving disabled students, including the death of East Hanover's Matthew Rossi, a 19-year-old with muscular dystrophy and autism, who was pronounced dead after a ride home from his Oakland school in 2023. 'Our son, Matthew, was the epitome of courage and perseverance,' said Matthew's mother, Anabela, who testified at the hearing in Trenton. 'His example is our inspiration for the efforts on this bill, which is an important first step in basic, commonsense safeguards, that our most vulnerable students deserve, and establishes accountability by the personnel we entrust their precious lives to.' Rossi's parents have sued the bus contractor and the employer of a nurse and school aide who were on the bus, saying they failed to respond when Matthew choked on his own mucus. The nurse, Emilio J. Rivera of Carlstadt, pleaded guilty last month to criminal neglect and endangerment charges and is awaiting sentencing. It was one of a series of recent incidents involving students with disabilities on Garden State school buses that underscored the urgency for enhanced safety measures. In 2023, 6-year-old Fajr Atiya Williams died on her way to school when she was strangled by her wheelchair harness; in 2022, 16-year-old Landon Goff lost consciousness and choked on his saliva during a bus ride, his family said. The legislation that advanced this week was sponsored by state Senate Republican leader Anthony Bucco, of Morris County, and Middlesex County Democrat Patrick Diegnan. Under the proposal, school bus staff members would be required to call 911 in emergencies that threaten the life of a student. Buses carrying children with disabilities also would need to be equipped with video cameras, communication devices and GPS. The bill also requires additional training for school bus contractors who interact with students with disabilities. More: NJ school bus system problems mount. New safety chief hired but state mum on details 'Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, especially those with disabilities, is of utmost importance,' Bucco said in a statement. 'This legislation is a critical step in making sure that school bus personnel are properly equipped to respond swiftly in life-threatening situations and providing our students and their families with the peace of mind that help will be on the way when it's needed most.' The only caveat came from Jonathan Pushman, director of governmental relations at the New Jersey School Boards Association, who expressed concerns about the financial implications of the bill. Installing the required equipment on school buses to comply with the bill could cost between $15 million and $52 million, the association estimated. Though not questioning the need for reform, Pushman urged legislators to find money in the state budget to help local districts afford the new measures. The bill, approved on a 5-0 vote by the Education Committee, now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. A companion measure is also before the Assembly Education Committee. The legislation must still pass the full Senate and Assembly and be signed by the governor to become law. This article originally appeared on NJ advances school bus safety bill for special education students
