Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay Foundation Sponsors Outdoor Classroom for The HEAL Project

The 6th Annual Magic of the Coastside Fundraiser Event will be held at the IDES Hall on April 2nd. The major donation from the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay Foundation based on event proceeds will underwrite an open-air classroom at The HEAL Project’s San Mateo County School Farm located in Half Moon Bay.

The HEAL Project was founded in 2006 as a hands on educational program to teach children ages 5-18 about sustainable agriculture and healthy nutrition practices. The HEAL Project’s San Mateo County Farm, in partnership with Cabrillo Farms, now serves over 2,000 students annually from San Mateo County. Funds raised at Magic of the Coastside will be designated for the construction of The HEAL Project’s second open air classroom at the Farm. This classroom will enable The HEAL Project to expand its programs, serving more students and providing a venue for the organization’s ancillary programs such as horticultural therapy, day camps for Coastside residents, and volunteer days. Rotary Club President Liz Schuck adds, “We are honored to support this valuable initiative. We believe this project leverages our Foundation’s funds by build a long-lasting program that enriches the lives of children and their families.”

The HEAL Project engages children from the ground up in learning about food systems, local agriculture, and making healthy choices about food and fitness to develop lifelong healthy habits. At the School Farm, students from across San Mateo County are engaged in the process of growing a diversity of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Kindergarten-12th grade students are provided a unique opportunity at the farm to connect with the earth, the local environment, and to learn about science, health and nutrition through hands-on experiences such as planting, harvesting, cooking, and tasting fresh local food.

Amy Bono-Kruckewitt, Executive Director of The HEAL Project is excited about the opportunities the new classroom will provide to the Coastside. “This second farm classroom will be a beautiful and functional space that allows THP to increase outdoor learning opportunities and positively impact a greater number of local youth and Coastside residents.”

The Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay is one of 34,000 clubs around the world and is proud to be a supporter of the HEAL Project. Rotary International’s signature cause is the eradication of polio, and the end is in sight with just three countries in the world with endemic cases. The Half Moon Bay Club meets each Thursday for lunch at the Portuguese Center at 724 Kelly Street in downtown Half Moon Bay. http://www.rotaryofhalfmoonbay.com/

Contact Mary Corcoran, Public Relations Chairperson, at mcorcoranhmb@gmail.com or 650-218-0436.