The Monterey County Weekly Community Fund is a grant-making fund established by Monterey County Weekly and Monterey County Now in 2000. The purpose of the Fund is to raise money and build public awareness for specific programs that bridge divisions in our community, improve the environmental health, create educational opportunities, support and strengthen our community. Since 2000, the fund has raised and donated over $300,000 to local non-profit organizations.

In late 2003, Monterey County Weekly Community Fund launched the Farm to School Partnership through California State University Monterey Bay. In the last year the Partnership has organized educational forums, helped set food policy in local school districts, built several school gardens and hired a full-time program director. Future goals of the Farm to School Partnership include:

1.  Improving school lunches using locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables

2. Introducing sound nutritional principles into the curriculum

3. Giving children hands-on experience in school gardens

4. Promoting respect for local growers and agricultural workers

5. Teaching waste reduction through composting and recycling

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