Local Students Commemorate National Garden Month by ``Growing'' Healthy Pizzas.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Renowned Los Angeles Chefs, the Border Girls -- Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, National Gardening Association and Hilton Garden Inn(R) Teach Young Students Good Nutrition Through Schoolyard Gardening Project

More than 120 students from Monte Vista Early Education Center in Los Angeles today commemorated National Garden Month by learning how to transform an unhealthy, but often favorite, food choice -- pizza -- into a healthy choice by adding fresh vegetables grown from their own school garden. Celebrated Los Angeles chefs, the Border Girls -- Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, the National Gardening Association (NGA) and Hilton Garden Inn(R) teamed up for the "Grow a School Garden" event, an annual tradition for students at the school.

The messages about good nutrition and the importance of adding vegetables to make meals healthier comes at a time when childhood obesity rates are soaring and school-age children face alarming health risks as a result of poor nutrition. In fact, according to the American Obesity Association, approximately one out of every three children ages six to 11 are overweight, and slightly more than 15 percent are obese. Overweight children are at greater risk for developing many chronic diseases -- such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers -- in adulthood.

"Pizza is a favorite among most school-age children and something they can easily relate to. It was the perfect vehicle for us to illustrate our messages about good nutrition and the important role fruits and vegetables play in eating healthy," said the Border Girls.

"For many young children, fresh fruits and vegetables are just items that are found in the produce aisle of their local grocery stores or in their school lunches," said Mark Nogal, vice president -- marketing for Hilton Garden Inn. "Through today's event and the 'Grow a School Garden' program, Hilton Garden Inn is not only giving students an opportunity to learn the principles of gardening, we're also teaching kids an invaluable lesson about where food comes from and the importance of incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their daily diets."

The event kicked off with a special lesson from the Border Girls about how food is grown, and the difference between healthy and less healthy food choices. Charlie Nardozzi, chief horticulturist for the NGA and chief gardening officer for Hilton Garden Inn, then led students in multiple gardening exercises. First, he helped them expand their existing schoolyard garden plots to add ingredients needed to create nutritious pizzas, including a variety of vegetable toppings as well as an array of herbs that can be included in a nutritious pizza sauce. Next, Charlie taught the students how to harvest the vegetables they planted at the school last fall.

"Kids have a natural curiosity about nature and how things grow," said Charlie Nardozzi. "To see their excitement for the gardening process -- from planting and watering to harvesting -- is such a rewarding experience. This event will hopefully bring our program greater attention, enabling it to grow across the country."

To conclude the event, the children were able to enjoy the "fruits of their labor" as they watched the Border Girls prepare fresh vegetable pizzas using items harvested from the school's existing gardens.

About the "Grow a School Garden" Program

The "Grow A School Garden" program is a community outreach initiative designed by Hilton Garden Inn and the NGA to teach students the many facets of gardening and the importance of the global environment. Through the program, local Hilton Garden Inn hotels across the country donate garden education packages that include all the tools necessary to grow and maintain an indoor or outdoor garden. Hilton Garden Inn employees also offer personal teamwork and dedication needed to help grow the garden.

About Hilton Garden Inn

For the past three years, Hilton Garden Inn has received the distinguished "Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Scale Hotel Chains with Full Service" award in the 2004, 2003 and 2002 J.D. Power and Associates North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study(SM). Hilton Garden Inn developments represent one of the cornerstones of the Hilton franchise growth strategy. The Hilton Garden Inn brand is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company.

Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning, mid-priced brand that's obsessed with ensuring today's busy travelers have everything they need to be most productive on the road -- from complimentary high-speed Internet access in all guestrooms and secure remote printing, to the hotel's 24-hour business center, to getting the perfect night's sleep. Hilton Garden Inn is obsessed with ensuring guests achieve the best travel experience every time.

For more information about the "Grow A School Garden" project and Hilton Garden Inn hotels in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, please visit www.hiltongardeninn.com or call 1-877-STAY-HGI in the U.S. Canada and Mexico.