More needy children in Bermuda’s schools will receive breakfasts thanks to a $40,000 donation to the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

The money was raised by sales of a CD compilation of local artists, under the sponsorship of Freisenbruch-Meyer Group.

Company president Michael Freisenbruch presented the coalition with the cheque for its Breakfast for Every Child programme yesterday. “The real stars in this enterprise are the coalition and the work they do for Bermuda’s children,” he said.

The organisation provides breakfast for children at Paget Primary, Prospect Primary, Dellwood Middle School and Victor Scott Primary.

Coalition chairwoman Sheelagh Cooper said: “We serve breakfasts every morning at these schools. We go in with staff to provide them with a nice morning experience as well as food. Right now it costs us $50 a month to feed a child breakfast. So today’s donation is going to go a long way for us.”

Education Minister Jennifer Smith was unable to attend yesterday’s presentation but a statement was read on her behalf.

She noted that “between 25 percent and 30 percent of black children in female-led households live in situations where basic nutritional meals are not available on a consistent basis.”

Calling Breakfast for Every Child “the type of private sector initiative that deserves to be recognised”, Dame Jennifer said it would grow from the extra funding.

“So that’s another group of children who will not go without, who will have a warm meal in their bellies, and who will not be distracted from learning because they haven’t had sufficient nourishment,” she said.

The fund-raising CD, called ‘Ride the Wave Vol. 1’, is the brainchild of Mr Freisenbruch and contributing artist Tony Brannon.

Twenty Bermudian artists each contributed one song.

Those involved included Michael Cacy, Ed Christopher, Steven Spencer-Arscott, Collie Buddz, Heather Nova and Troy Anthony.

Mr Spencer-Arscott, half of the duo Junior Steven and Squinty, said he was proud to be included.

“Originally our song was supposed to get submitted for the movie ‘Barbershop’, but we lost out to Puff Daddy. Go figure,” he said.

‘Ride the Wave Vol. 1’ was released in June.

Nearly 2,000 $20 CDs have sold at 40 locations across the Island. Mr Brannon said a second volume is being planned.

The coalition’s Breakfast for Every Child programme is now in its fourth year of operation.

The initiative began at Victor Scott Primary and was expanded after a 2009 survey at one public primary school which revealed that 30 percent of the students there that day had not been given breakfast.

Ms Cooper said yesterday’s $40,000 donation was “almost enough to feed an entire school for an entire year”.