How The Education Fund and Life Time Foundation Boost an
Eco-Learning Environment for Families to Thrive
MIAMI, April 24,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This Earth Month, The
Education Fund joined forces with Life Time Foundation to champion
environmental stewardship and nutritional education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS)
through the innovative Food Forests for Schools program.
"Supporting The Education Fund Food
Forests for Schools program was a natural fit for us. Together,
we're cultivating a generation that values sustainability and
living a healthy way of life," said Sarah
Emola, Director of ESG and Life Time
Foundation."
On April 22, special Earth Day
activities at The Education Fund Food Forest at Royal Palm
Elementary inspired more students and entire communities toward
sustainable-living practices. In collaboration with the M-DCPS
Department of Food & Nutrition and UF/IFAS Extension Family
Nutrition Program, students at Royal Palm Elementary collected a
harvest from the Food Forest, taste tested Florida-grown produce as part of the "Florida
Crunch," and participated in outdoor math and science lessons.
The recent $50,000 donation from
Life Time Foundation enriches the Food Forests for Schools
initiative for more than 28,000 students across Miami-Dade, the third largest school district
in the U.S. The Education Fund, in collaboration with M-DCPS,
created Food Forests for Schools. This first-in-the-nation,
large-scale initiative transforms schoolyards into eco-labs for
student learning. Multilayered Food Forests become vibrant
classrooms without walls, where hands-on lessons in nutrition,
math, science, and sustainability take root in the fertile
ground.
Sarah Emola, Director of ESG and
Life Time Foundation, reflected on the program's alignment with the
foundation's mission. "Supporting The Education Fund Food Forests
for Schools program was a natural fit for us. Together, we're
cultivating a generation that values sustainability and living a
healthy way of life."
The program's hands-on approach has yielded impressive results
in students' nutrition and eating behaviors: 51% of participating
students have enhanced their nutrition knowledge, and 49% have
shifted their behavior toward consuming more nutritious foods.
"The Education Fund Food Forests program empowers students to
make lifelong healthy food choices by transforming the fundamentals
of nutrition through hands-on experience of growing their own
gardens," said Angie Kasselakis,
M-DCPS food and nutrition officer.
Eddie Recinos, Program Director
at The Education Fund, added, "Students who've never touched soil
or seen vegetables grow are now collecting harvests. They're
measuring growth, calculating yields, and even taking home fresh
produce they've grown themselves. More than 265,000 Food Forest
harvest bags have found their way into students' homes since 2015,
turning lessons into dinners and changing the way families think
about food."
These Food Forests simultaneously increase canopy cover (the
proportion of the ground shaded by trees), biodiversity, and
significantly reduce heat while improving children's academic
success and nutritional health. Average canopy cover in the food
forests is approximately 53%, significantly higher than the mean
canopy cover in Miami-Dade County
(20%), according to Florida International
University professor and researcher Cara Rockwell, PhD. The research also indicated
that the introduction of food forest gardens increased plant
species richness by more than 400% when compared to the grassy
areas adjacent to the schools.
Karly Pulido, M-DCPS
Sustainability Officer, emphasized the program's broader impacts:
"Integrating Food Forests into our schools not only enriches
student learning, but also actively contributes to our
sustainability initiatives, which is why the Food Forests are now
collaborating with the district's Green Schools Recognition
Program."
This Earth Month, Life Time Foundation and The Education Fund
invite the community to join in supporting and celebrating the
achievements of the Food Forests for Schools program. It's not just
about planting trees and vegetables; it's about planting knowledge
and habits that will grow alongside the students, fostering a
healthier, more sustainable future for all.
For more information about the Food Forests for Schools program
and how to get involved, visit educationfund.org.
About The Education Fund
The Education Fund brings innovative methods to local public
schools, raises awareness about public education, and encourages
private sector investment. Recognized for improving student
outcomes, The Education Fund has received prestigious awards,
including the TD Ready Challenge, Greater Miami Chamber's NOVO
Award for Non-Profit Excellence, the Blue Foundation's Sapphire
Prize among others. Learn more at educationfund.org.
About Life Time Foundation
Life Time Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit created by Life Time,
Inc. is dedicated to inspiring Healthy People, a Healthy Planet,
and a Healthy Way of Life. Through financial grants and direct
action, we support Youth Nutrition by helping schools serve more
wholesome, nourishing, minimally processed food to students; Youth
Movement by championing physical movement programs that get
children active and excited to move for life; and a Healthy Planet
by supporting forestation and conservation initiatives, so everyone
can live healthy, happy lives. For more information, visit
http://www.ltfoundation.org.
Media Contact
Trina Sargalski, The Education
Fund, 305-761-8605, tsargalski@educationfund.org,
https://www.educationfund.org/
Patricia Maldonado, Little Fish
Media, 305-490-8831, patricia@littlefishmedia.net,
https://www.educationfund.org/
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SOURCE The Education Fund