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Posted on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 : 10:15 a.m.

Ann Arbor yogurt eaters to decide which city program will receive $15,000

By Tina Reed

One Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation program is going to receive $15,000 from a national yogurt retailer.

But it's up to yogurt eating Ann Arborites to decide which program.

Stonyfield Farm says it will award a donation to either Mack Pool, the Ann Arbor Senior Center or the Parks and Recreation's scholarship program based on local votes.

Called the "Bid with your Lid" program, anyone who comes into participating grocery stores with a Stonyfield Farm yogurt lid can turn that lid in for a vote through Oct. 1.

"They are looking to branch out their brand and looking to similar communities," Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Deputy Manager Jeff Straw said about the Londonderry, New Hampshire-based company.

Ann Arbor is a city with values that align with Stonyfield's corporate mission of healthy food, healthy people and a healthy planet, a spokeswoman said in a release. "We want to support and further encourage those values," it said. "The Parks and Recreation program supports fitness for all community members, so it's a natural fit with the healthy organic lifestyle."

The yogurt lids collected will be returned to Stonyfield for counting and recycling, the spokeswoman said.

The programs up for potential funding were chosen because both Mack Pool and the Senior Center were in danger of closing before they were ultimately spared in the budget-cutting process last year, Straw said.

And the scholarship program provides a number of different opportunities for people who might not otherwise afford passes to visit different city resources. The scholarship package includes a pool pass and access to three different parks and recreation resources and is valued at $500. At that cost, at least 30 scholarships could be handed out.

"Out of all the programs we looked at for that dollar amount, we looked at places where it could have the greatest impact," Straw said. 

The partnership benefits the company by giving it more exposure, but it also provides valuable financial assistance and exposure for one of these city programs, he said. "This is a good partnership both ways."

Stonyfield Farm will be giving out free samples at a number of locations, including on Saturday at the Cure Search Walk for Children’s Cancer at Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Kroger, 1919 S Industrial Highway, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Representatives will also be visiting local grocery stores in August and September.

Participating local grocery stores accepting lids include the People's Food Co-Op, Plum Market and local Buschs, Kroger and Whole Foods stores.

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.