Boar's Head, maker of premium deli meats and cheeses and longtime supporter of family health, wellness, and nutrition, is a national promotional sponsor of the School Walk for Diabetes program. The company partnered with author Tina Powell in the creation of her second Boar's Head special edition storybook promoting health and nutrition, Fernando's Fun-tastic Friends. Boar's Head is distributing free to children across America 200,000 special edition copies of the book.

At the special reading, kids will have a chance to hear Tina Powell read from her book and learn for themselves about the fun in fitness. This entertaining book, written in both English and Spanish, encourages good nutrition and active living through the story of its main character, Fernando. Inactive Fernando worries that he has turned his once energetic friends into couch potatoes and, as a result, invents his own games to get them moving again.

During the reading, kids and their families will hear about Fernando's journey from fitness resister to fan, and how school kids can support fitness and health organizations as the book's characters plan an American Diabetes Association School Walk for Diabetes and invent ways to keep their fellow students active through the Fickle Field Elementary School Fitness Fun Club.

In addition to being a popular children's author, Powell is also a mother and fitness enthusiast. She was inspired to write this book when she read about the growing rate of type 2 diabetes in children.  "We've all heard the alarming statistics. Ailments like heart disease and diabetes are on the rise. When I was a child, we were always active, riding our bicycles, jumping rope, and playing games," she explains. "Today kids are much more sedentary. So I created Fernando to put the fun back into fitness -- and Boar's Head stepped up to make sure this vitally important message reaches American families."

"We are thrilled to bring the story of Fernando and his fun-tastic friends to children," adds Boar's Head Director of Communications, RuthAnn LaMore. "We are committed to helping Americans make healthy lifestyle choices through good eating habits and physical fitness." Families can also get the book online at boarshead.com/fernando along with five printable activity pages in English and Spanish."

Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., a manufacturer of premium delicatessen products for over 100 years, has joined the American Diabetes Association as a national promotional sponsor of the School Walk for Diabetes program. Boar's Head, along with the assistance of hundreds of independent Boar's Head Distributors, encouraged school officials across the country to participate in the School Walk fundraising program to promote healthy living, school spirit and community involvement. Boar's Head and the American Diabetes Association are working together to champion the cause of type 2 diabetes prevention by promoting healthy lifestyle options through good eating habits and physical fitness.  Ten schools from across the country won the Boar's Head-sponsored author visit with Powell by participating in the American Diabetes Association's School Walk for Diabetes program.