Empowering 7,000 Students Across 25 Schools to Embrace Healthy Cooking
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has announced a major initiative to improve youth nutrition education by awarding $250,000 in ‘Get Kids Cooking’ grants. This investment will support hands-on culinary programs at 25 schools nationwide, impacting an estimated 7,000 students through practical cooking and healthy eating activities.
Hands-On Learning to Inspire Healthy Habits
According to Lyndsey Waugh, Executive Director of the Foundation, “Preparing fresh meals in school helps children develop essential life skills while building a positive relationship with healthy food.” She added that these cooking lessons also make learning more engaging by integrating science, math, and problem-solving in everyday classroom experiences.
Schools Selected from 1,300 Nominations
Sprouts received over 1,300 entries for its ‘Get Kids Cooking’ contest held in January. Each of the 25 winning schools will receive a $10,000 grant package, including:
- A mobile cooking cart
- Small kitchen appliances and essentials
- Classroom-friendly recipes
- Sprouts gift cards for fresh ingredients
- A stipend for the educator leading the program
The full list of selected schools is available at Sprouts.com/getkidscooking.
Transforming School Programs Through Cooking
One of the recipients, Catalina Ventura School in Phoenix, plans to use the grant to enhance its culinary science curriculum. Janet Ankrum, a STEM educator at the school, shared: “This grant gives our 450 students regular access to cooking activities. It’s a dream come true.”
A Long-Term Commitment to Youth Wellness
Since 2015, Sprouts has supported school gardening and cooking programs, recognizing their long-term impact on shaping healthy food preferences. This year alone, 3 million children are expected to benefit from Sprouts-funded nutrition education programs across the U.S.
About the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
Founded in 2015, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation is a nonprofit focused on nutrition education, wellness access, and community health. The foundation emphasizes youth-based programs, helping children form healthy habits early in life. It has awarded over $35 million in grants to date. Learn more at sprouts.com/foundation.
About Sprouts Farmers Market
Sprouts Farmers Market is one of the largest and fastest-growing natural grocery chains in the U.S., with over 440 stores in 24 states. Headquartered in Phoenix, Sprouts promotes organic, plant-based, and gluten-free products, encouraging communities to adopt a natural and healthy lifestyle. Visit sprouts.com/about for more.
