Chase Bank recently awarded a $150,000 grant to Growing Power, the urban farm center to fight rising malnourishment in Milwaukee and across America. The inaccessibility of healthy and affordable food is a major challenge for families struggling with unemployment and poverty.
“There are many worthy causes in need of support, but few as compelling as ensuring that families and children have healthy food on their tables,” said Jim Popp, Wisconsin market president for Chase. “Chase is happy to support Growing Power on these projects where the people in and from the community will help drive its success.”
The donation from Chase will bolster the front line of the battle against hunger in the classrooms and cafeterias of the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). It will also expand the “Farm Fresh to MPS” program where Growing Power delivers fresh, wholesome, locally grown produce to Milwaukee schoolchildren who seldom have access to such foods at home. In addition, Growing Power will develop and deliver a curriculum that focuses on the biologic, ecologic and economic advantages on urban farming. The program will reach all 112 MPS elementary schools by the end of the three-year project.
“I can’t thank Chase enough for recognizing the need and stepping up. This is a very meaningful commitment to the struggle, and I intend to see that this gift grows like salad from the seed,” said Will Allen, Growing Power founder and chief executive officer. “We are stepping up our food programs on every front,” he said.
