Master Gardeners urge teachers to apply for grant

MADISON – Master Gardeners of North Alabama encourage local teachers to apply for a grant with the Jane R. Parks Memorial Fund.

The master gardeners want to be sure that teachers know about the grant money before the 2017-2018 school year ends. Teachers may be planning for a project during the next school year that fits the grant criteria.

“We’re also contacting the schools’ central office,” Master Gardener and spokesperson Suzanne Kirkhuff said.

Established in 2012, the Jane R. Parks Memorial Fund involves a mutual agreement between the Parks family and Master Gardeners of North Alabama. “The family will provide annual funding, and the MGNA organization will manage the application process at no cost to the organization,” Kirkhuff said.

The Parks grant allocates monies to support various educational and horticultural projects in Madison County. The number of requests awarded will depend on available funds at the time. Yearly distributions to awardees will total no more than $1,000 each.

Organizations submitting applications must be non-profit organizations and have no political affiliations.

In addition, a nonprofit group or institution can apply for an existing gardening project that needs further assistance in funding. Examples are outdoor classrooms, educational landscapes and crop education.

Application deadline is Oct. 15, 2018.

“Jane was a passionate educator for 30 years and a gardener for most of her life,” Kirkhuff said. “She became a master gardener in January 2003. This memorial grant honors her extraordinary life through teaching and helping others obtain an understanding of the importance and value in growing things of beauty,” Kirkhuff said.

For more information, visit mginfo.org, and click “Community Grants.” Scroll down to the “Admin Teams and Chairs” list and click “Jane R. Parks Grant Information.” Other links are available for “Grant Application Link” and “History and Qualifying Criteria.”