Louisiana First lady Donna Edwards joined United Health Foundation and Whole Kids Foundation to award 16 grants totaling $40,000 to Louisiana schools and youth organizations.
Each grant recipient will receive a grant to build or expand existing vegetable gardens, salad bars, or beehives, and provide educational resources about agriculture, caring for the environment, and maintaining healthy lifestyles. The grants are being provided by a partnership between United Health Foundation and Whole Kids Foundation to address hunger and support nutrition education.
Grant recipients include:
Rapides Exploratory Educ. House, Inc. – Alexandria
Berchmans Academy of the Sacred Heart – Grand Coteau
Shady Grove Elementary - Monroe
Bayou Vista Elementary School – Morgan City
Livingston Collegiate (part of Collegiate Academies network) – New Orleans
Encore Academy – New Orleans
Mary D. Coghill Charter School – New Orleans
Fannie C. Williams Charter School – New Orleans
Dolores T. Aaron Academy – New Orleans
Audubon Nature Institute, Inc. – New Orleans
Little Pearl Elementary School – Pearl River
Ruston Elementary School – Ruston
Saint Martin Parish Schools/St. Martinville
Primary School – St. Martinville
Evangeline Parish School Board – Ville Platte
Live Oak Middle School –Watson
“Nourishing minds and bodies is critical to helping children succeed in school,” said Edwards. “Research shows that eating a healthy breakfast and lunch improves student attendance, discipline, and academic performance.”
Edwards, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Dr. Julie Morial, Whole Kids Foundation President and Executive Director Nona Evans, Grow Dat Youth Farm Executive Director Devon Turner, and other education and healt care leaders hosted a discussion about health challenges facing their communities at the Grow Dat Youth Farm in New Orleans, one of the grant recipients. Grow Dat Youth Leaders led guests on a “Walk and Talk” around the farm.
“Magic happens when a child plants a seed that grows into something natural and healthy to eat,” Evans said. “These grants will help give many children the opportunity to grow their own nutritious food, and this experience will shape healthy eating choices for the rest of their lives.”
Studies show school gardening, combined with a healthy lunch program or nutrition education, encourages healthier food choices. Children are also more likely to eat fruits and vegetables they have grown themselves.
According to America’s Health Rankings, more than a third of Louisiana children ages 10-17 are overweight or obese. This is higher than the national average of 31 percent.
“These schools and organizations are creating a positive environment where young people can make healthy choices that will sustain them for a lifetime,” said Dr. Morial. “On behalf of United Health Foundation, we are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this initiative to give students the tools they need to succeed and become healthy, productive adults.”
Pictured, left to right, are grant recipient Christy Kane, Encore Academy-New Orleans; Nona Evans, president and executive director of Whole Kids Foundation; Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards; Devon Turner, executive director Grow Dat Youth Farm; grant recipient Rene Merino, Encore Academy-New Orleans; and Dr. Julie Morial, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana.