Local nonprofit receives boots to aid youth gardening program

Local nonprofit receives boots to aid youth gardening program

State Farm® Youth Advisory Board grants $33,825 to local program

State Farm Public Affairs Community Specialist, Jose Soto, addresses Liberty Elementary students before planting the school’s new garden.

      BROWARD COUNTY, FL — On Nov. 13, 2015, HandsOn Broward was awarded a $33,825 service-learning grant from the State Farm® Youth Advisory Board to support its experiential youth gardening program. This is the second year that HandsOn Broward has received this competitive grant, joining 62 community organizations selected across the United States and Canada, including seven programs in Florida.

HandsOn Broward team members, State Farm® Youth Advisory Board representatives, and school and community volunteers were on hand for the check presentation and to break ground on the first garden of the grant period at Liberty Elementary School in Pompano Beach.

Building upon its successful 2014-15 program, which assisted 15 elementary schools in designing and building edible gardens, HandsOn Broward will expand the 2015-16 program to include middle and high schools. Students from the selected schools will create, build, and maintain sustainable gardens, and will learn to engage in healthy eating, nutrition, and environmental stewardship.

“Thanks to the support of State Farm, were able to bring service-learning to thousands of students throughout Broward County,” said Dale Mandell, HandsOn Broward’s CEO. “We believe that hands-on experiences are particularly effective in teaching the importance of healthy living and environ-mental responsibility. We’re grateful to State Farm for sharing our vision.”

“State Farm supports service-learning because it integrates service to the community into classroom curriculum using a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility,” said Jose Soto, State Farm community specialist for the Broward County area. “Service-learning is an excellent way to engage students outside of the traditional ‘chalk and black-board’ model, and the YAB really liked this project’s core goals.”

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has granted over $32 million in grant money since its inception in 2006, empowering youth to implement service-learning in 520 communities.

To learn more about HandsOn Broward’s upcoming service opportunities or to schedule a volunteer orientation at your organization or place of business, call (954) 233-1300 or visit us online at www.HandsOnBroward.org

For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.