Whole Kids Foundation Funds 600 New Edible Education Gardens
Recipients include schools and non-profit organizations working to create a deeper connection between kids and food
AUSTIN, Texas, April 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Today, Whole Kids Foundation announced 602 new school and school-garden-support-organization grant recipients. The recipients cover 46 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces, providing educational opportunities around agriculture, ecology, nutrition and business for 356,798 students.
Created in partnership with FoodCorps, the School Garden Grant program provides a $2,000 grant to a K-12 school or nonprofit organization to support an edible garden on school grounds. Whole Kids Foundation’s Extended Learning Garden program provides a $2,000 grant to a nonprofit children’s programming organization, working with children ages K-12, to support an edible educational garden in a non-school environment such as children’s hospitals or after-school programs.
“We believe in the power of a garden as a learning space,” said Nona Evans, president and executive director of Whole Kids Foundation. “Every garden grant creates an opportunity for kids to learn more about where their food comes from, gain a deeper understanding of the connection between what we eat and how we feel, and put all of that learning into action as they make daily choices for meals and snacks.”
Gardens are becoming an increasingly common educational tool and for good reason: school gardens are shown to improve children’s behavior and performance at school and improve their attitudes about and appreciation for the environment. Additionally, only two percent of children eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables, but children who have a hand in growing food are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables and to be more knowledgeable about nutrition.
Over the past seven years, Whole Kids Foundation has awarded funding for 4,826 gardens, investing $9.65 million and benefiting 2.9 million students.
For more information on the Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant program, visit http://bit.ly/2aDziI8.
About Whole Kids Foundation®
Whole Kids Foundation, a Whole Foods Market foundation, is based in Austin, Texas, and operates as an independent, nonprofit organization. By empowering schools and inspiring families, the Foundation aims to help children reach optimal health through the strength of a healthy body fueled by nutritious food. For more information on the Foundation’s programs including school gardens, salad bars and nutrition education for teachers, visit wholekidsfoundation.org.
