The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, announced today that Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities is now accepting applications for 2013.
Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities is about growing communities and improving lives. With support from the Monsanto Fund, the program will give back to farmers and rural communities by providing farmers with a chance to win $2,500 for a local charitable or not-for-profit group important to them and their rural community.
“Supporting rural communities and improving the lives of rural residents is a key focus for the Monsanto Fund and our corporative giving activities in Canada,” said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada.
“Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities gives farmers the opportunity to strengthen their communities while highlighting the important role farmers play in improving the lives of rural residents and society as a whole,” Jordan said.
First offered on a Canada-wide basis in 2012, a total of 58 winners nominated by farmers in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Northeastern B.C. received $145,000 in grant money to support charitable and not-for-profit groups in their community.
Winning entries last year covered a wide range of focus areas from agricultural societies, playgrounds, daycares and school projects to community sporting organizations, libraries and health/service groups.
A complete listing of last year’s winners is posted online at the www.CanadasFarmers.ca.
In 2013, two $2,500 grants will be awarded in each of 30 different territories across the grain growing regions of northeastern BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
A total of $150,000 in grant money will be made available across Canada to charitable and not-for-profit groups that are making a difference in the lives of rural residents.
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Learn more at www.monsantofund.org.
The application submission period has been extended for 2013, giving farmers more time to consider and submit an application between Jan. 7, and Sept. 30.
Visit www.CanadasFarmers.ca where complete contest rules and an online application form are available.
Under the official program, rules for the Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities program, farmers who are 19 years of age or older and actively engaged in farming corn, soybeans and/or canola on at least 160 acres in Western Canada, or corn or soybeans on at least 80 acres in Eastern Canada, are eligible to participate in the program.
“This program is about farmers helping their communities and we want to make it as simple as possible for them to participate,” explained Jordan. “All they have to do is tell us a bit about their favourite charitable or not-for-profit group and how that group would benefit from a $2,500 grant and they could win.”
The entry period runs until Sept. 30, 2013. Farmers who meet the eligibility requirements may submit one application.
Complete program details and terms and conditions are available at www.CanadasFarmers.ca.
