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The Blue Cross & Blue
Shield of Mississippi
Foundation Awards
School Garden Grant
Robbie Bennett
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is working
to educate and empower students in grades K-12 to make healthy food
choices by funding sustainable school gardens. This school year, Tri
County Academy welcomes students to a new school garden program
made possible by a grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
Foundation. The Foundation’s School Garden Program is designed to
fully integrate gardening into the fabric of participating schools and the
academic experience of every student.
Since 2015, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation
has provided $2.4 million to implement 82 school garden programs in
39 counties across the state impacting over 53,000 students. Bringing
excitement to education, school gardens allow students to be farmers,
scientists, mathematicians, historians, poets, chefs, and horticulturists
while learning in a living laboratory outside the traditional classroom.
School gardens provide an educational setting where students, parents,
teachers, and community partners can work alongside one another
engaging in moderate exercise while building positive relationships.
“The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation School
Garden Program provides students with a connection between health,
nutritious food, and academic excellence,” said Foundation Director
Eugenia King. “We are proud to partner with Tri County Academy
to create a school garden program that fosters a sense of ownership and
equity by increasing students’ knowledge about growing, harvesting,
and preparing fresh garden produce.”
Steve Flemming, the headmaster for Tri County Academy said,
“Receiving this grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
Foundation will greatly enhance our in-the-field learning on how to
manage a working garden. Our students will learn to prepare, plant,
maintain, and harvest fruits and vegetables. Although we live in an
agricultural section of our state, many students do not have the opportunity
to enjoy this way of life. Thanks to the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of
Mississippi Foundation’s grant support and the many faculty members
who pursued this grant, our students will receive this knowledge.”
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation has a vision
for a healthy Mississippi and provides leadership and targeted grant funding
for sustainable initiatives and programs to improve the overall health
and well-being of Mississippians. Learn more about the School Garden
Program and the Foundation at www.healthiermississippi.org.
Hometown MADISON • 99