AT&T Awards $5,000 Grant to Support Educational Garden Project

From the Connecticut General Assembly:

EAST WINDSOR - AT&T recently awarded a $5,000 grant to the East Windsor Transition Program to help local students with special needs grow and maintain their own fruit and vegetable gardens.

The East Windsor Transition Program serves local young adults, aged 18-21, with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, striving to connect these students to their community through vocational training and confidence-building activities.

The program, with help from AT&T’s $5,000 grant, plans to build three hydroponic garden towers that will be grown and maintained by a group of students within a classroom setting. Taking on the responsibility of building these gardens from the ground up will foster a sense of accomplishment in each participating student.

“The unique, imaginative activities the East Windsor Transition Program use to instill a sense of curiosity in its young students are nothing short of extraordinary,” said Abby Jewett, Regional Vice President AT&T Connecticut. “Through innovation, creativity, and tireless hard work, this organization is making a real difference in the lives of countless people. AT&T is proud to support this project, and we look forward to seeing the gardens come to life.”

Over the course of the project, students will be involved with every step of the garden-growing process. They’ll research and purchase necessary materials and physically build the three towers. They’ll plant the seeds, maintain the garden’s water supply, monitor pH levels, and control pests. Finally, they’ll harvest their fruits and vegetables and learn how to use them to prepare healthy meals.

“AT&T is supporting the East Windsor Transition Program in doing more than just teaching our young adults confidence and responsibility with this new garden tower project. This hands-on project will provide the opportunity for our young adults to develop the skills needed for a healthy life style. It has been our program’s goal from the beginning to connect our adults to the community and this grant will open more opportunities to further achieve that goal. The East Windsor Transition Program is thankful to both AT&T and State Representative Chris Davis for supporting our young adults.” Amanda Johansen, East Windsor Transition Coordinator

“I applaud the East Windsor Transition Program for their commitment to our community, and I am continuously impressed with the creative ways they connect with their young students,” said state Rep. Chris Davis (R – Dist. 57, Ellington, East Windsor). “AT&T’s support for this great organization will go a long way in helping these impressive young adults.”

The garden project, slated to launch in late October, will integrate Common Core Standards as well as science and technical education in addition to valuable life skills.

Photo via the Connecticut General Assembly: Front row (left to right): Autumn Ortiz, Brittney Eckenroth, Brianna Welesky, Natalia Druzga. Middle row (left to right): Gina Pagano, Lizzette Santiago, Chentil Davis, Carla Rodriguez, Chelsea Blair. Back row (left to right): Jim Sullivan, Alex Fortier, Grant Slicer, State Rep. Chris Davis, AT&T Abigail Jewett, Pam Goodall.