LOS ANGELES, CA (June 18, 2013) This fall, a new subject is sprouting up in schools across Arizona, Southern California and Hawaii, which is taking the classroom outdoors. Thanks to Whole Kids Foundation, 54 schools in Whole Foods Market’s Southern Pacific region will receive grants of $2,000 each to build or expand community and school gardens. The nonprofit foundation was created by Whole Foods Market in 2011 and is dedicated to improving childhood nutrition through increased access to healthy food choices.

Seven schools in Arizona, 43 schools in Southern California, and four schools in Hawaii were selected to receive garden grants, which will provide more access to fresh produce for students and help establish a better understanding of where food comes from and the connection between a healthy planet with a healthy body. The following schools will be receiving grants:

Arizona

·         Alchesay High School

·         Maldonado Elementary

·         Mesa Preparatory Academy

·         Mountain Christian School

·         Ponderosa High School

·         Sahuarita Middle School

·         YouthWorks Charter High School

 

Hawaii

·         Lanai High and Elementary School

·         Pearl Ridge Elementary

·         Pomaikai Elementary School

·         St. Anthony School

Southern California

·         Adams Elementary School

·         Anatola Elementary

·         Burbank Community Day School

·         Canyon Charter

·         Cardiff School

·         Cohasset Street Elementary

·         College View School

·         Conejo Elementary

·         Cornerstone @ Pedregal Elementary School

·         Crown Valley Elementary

·         Dahlia Heights Elementary

·         Daniel Webster Elementary School

·         Delevan Drive Elementary

·         Evelyn Thurman Gratts Elementary School

·         Gault Elementary

·         Glassel Park Elementary School

·         Grand View Boulevard Elementary

·         Highland Ranch Elementary School

·         Ingenium Charter School

·         John B. Monlux Elementary

·         John Muir Middle School

 

·         La Ballona Elementary

·         Language Academy

·         Los Angeles Leadership Academy

·         Manual Arts High School

·         Mark Twain Elementary

·         Micheltorena Street Elementary School

·         Ocean Knoll Elementary School

·         Olympic High School

·         Pacific Rim Elementary School

·         Palisades Elementary Charter School

·         Portola Middle School

·         Richland Avenue Elementary

·         Rio Mesa High School

·         Rio Vista Middle School

·         Robinson

·         Shorecliffs Middle School

·         Spreckels Elementary

·         Ventura High School

·         Waldorf School of Orange County

·         Washington Elementary School

·         West Adams Preparatory High School

·         Woodbridge High School

 

In addition to providing funds, each grant recipient will receive a started set of seeds from High Mowing Organics and access to the School Garden Resource Center online at www.wholekidsfoundation.org to help recipients build and sustain their gardens to ensure long-term success.

“Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Whole Foods Market shoppers during our annual fundraiser in September 2012, we were able to raise a healthy $2.27 million which provided grants for 500 new gardens and 400 new salad bars to schools across the U.S. and Canada,” added Evans.

To date, the Whole Kids Foundation has funded 1,502 gardens and 2,507 salad bars in schools, which includes 169 gardens and 432 salad bars in schools across Whole Foods Market’s Southern Pacific region, which includes stores throughout Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii and Las Vegas.

With the goal of improving children’s nutrition, Whole Kids Foundation currently focuses on the following:

•    Ongoing work to provide salad bars in schools, giving children greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

•    Offering garden grants to create and expand school and community gardening.

•    Educational classes for teachers to promote health and nutrition in the classroom

For more information on Whole Kids Foundation, please visit www.wholekidsfoundation.com.

For additional information on Whole Foods Market, please visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com