Whole Kids Foundation and FoodCorps, is offering $2,000 grants to 1,000 schools who want to launch or expand a school garden.

 

 
Whole Foods Market Johns Creek & Whole Kids Foundation™ taking root with local school garden grant program

Whole Kids Foundation, in partnership with FoodCorps, is now accepting online grant applications for its first major initiative, the School Garden Grant Program. It will be funded by a six-week, in-store donation drive at all Whole Foods Market stores, including the one in Johns Creek. Donations will also be accepted online at wholekidsfoundation.org from Aug. 17 to Sept. 30.

In addition, the Whole Kids School Garden Grant Program, the Foundation and partner FoodCorps will offer $2,000 grants, along with curriculum, resources and mentorship, to 1,000 schools. FoodCorps’ expertise in gardening and its ongoing support will help schools build and sustain their gardens to ensure long-term success. All schools and garden-related nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants to support the launch or expansion of school gardens.

“We’re excited about the possibility of installing a garden in one of the schools in our area,” said Kubeshini Moodley, Marketing Team Leader for Whole Foods Market Johns Creek. “It really feeds into our mission of educating our customers, and where better to start than with students who can learn by growing their own food? They’ll realize that food doesn’t come out of a bag; it starts with a seed in the ground that they can nurture into something delicious and healthy.”

From now through September, shoppers can donate to the project at store checkouts or online through wholekidsfoundation.org. In addition to $2,000, each grant recipient will receive a copy of “How to Grow a School Garden” by Arden Bucklin-Sporer and Rachel Pringle, and a digital garden kit that includes an online resource center, discounts for gardening supplies from various partners, and ongoing opportunities for mentoring and support from FoodCorps. The Foundation will be accepting grant applications through Dec. 31, 2011, and recipients will be notified in February 2012.

The garden grants will be awarded to local schools, districts and garden-related nonprofit organizations through an online grant process, which will be administered by the Whole Kids Foundation and FoodCorps. To apply, each school must secure a community partner that will help them sustain a long-term garden. The school must also provide basic background information, including a photo of its garden site, proposed budget and timeline for the project, goals for the garden and an explanation of how students will be engaged.

“FoodCorps is thrilled to partner with Whole Kids Foundation to provide more children an opportunity to discover the joys of growing food, in turn establishing lifelong healthy-eating habits,” said Curt Ellis, Executive Director of FoodCorps.

Whole Kids 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 choices. For more information on the Foundation, ways parents can engage their schools, and how to apply for a school garden grant, visit: wholekidsfoundation.org