PHX Reporter

The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has announced the distribution of $250,000 in grants under its 'Get Kids Cooking' initiative. These funds are aimed at supporting culinary and nutrition education programs for youth across 25 schools nationwide. An estimated 7,000 students from coast to coast will engage in these newly established programs, backed by Sprouts.

Lyndsey Waugh, the executive director of the foundation, highlighted the initiative's educational benefits: "Hands-on experiences preparing fresh snacks and meals help kids build real skills and a positive connection with healthy eating. At school, these lessons also bring science, math and problem-solving to life, making learning more engaging and fun."

The selected schools were chosen from over 1,300 nominations submitted by Sprouts customers as part of a contest conducted in January. Each school will receive educational resources and materials essential for launching successful student cooking programs. The $10,000 grant includes a mobile cooking cart, small kitchen appliances and essentials, classroom-friendly recipes, gift cards for purchasing fresh ingredients at Sprouts, and a stipend for the teacher managing the program. Detailed information about the selected schools can be found at Sprouts.com/getkidscooking.

"This grant will help energize our culinary science program and give our school the extra boost we need to provide all 450 students on campus with regular cooking experiences throughout the year," remarked Janet Ankrum, a STEM and Exploratory Middle School Teacher at Catalina Ventura School in Phoenix. "It’s a dream come true for our students."

Since 2015, Sprouts has been a proponent of school-based gardening and cooking activities, recognizing their role in fostering positive health-related preferences in children. An estimated 3 million students will partake in nutrition education funded by the foundation this year. Additional information about the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation can be accessed at Sprouts.com/foundation.

The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation was established in 2015 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing nutrition education and access, as well as health and wellness initiatives, in states where Sprouts Farmers Market operates. Recognizing the significance of instilling healthy habits early, the foundation promotes youth-oriented gardening and cooking programs to equip children with lifelong healthy lifestyle skills. It also actively collaborates with local community organizations to broaden access to nutritional resources and wellness programs for families and adults. Since its inception, the foundation has granted $35 million in aid. More details are available at Sprouts.com/foundation.