Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, rheal@cfra.org, 402.687.2100 ext 1025
LYONS, NEBRASKA – The Center for Rural Affairs has been awarded a $200,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman.
Newman’s Own Foundation made the award to the Center for Rural Affairs as part of a broader commitment to support programs that increase access to fresh food and nutrition education in Native American communities. This funding will help the Center for Rural Affairs increase the number of family gardens and local markets on the Omaha and Santee Sioux Reservations in northeast Nebraska.
The Center for Rural Affairs is also participating in the Native American Nutrition Cohort that Newman’s Own Foundation created, a group of nine nonprofit organizations around the country that serve Native American communities. The Cohort, formed by Newman’s Own Foundation is aims to create greater impact through peer learning and collaboration. Participants will convene several times over two years to share expertise and gain valuable insight from each other. The first convening was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 7 through 9.
“Meeting with these other organizations will help us to learn ways to better use the resources that are common across all these different places," said Kathie Starkweather, who leads the Center's food access work. "Despite our local differences, there is much that we share.”
The Center for Rural Affairs is dedicated to establishing strong rural communities, social and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and genuine opportunity for all.
“We are proud to fund the Center for Rural Affairs as they work to make a difference in our communities,” said Bob Forrester, President and CEO, Newman’s Own Foundation. “Too little attention has been paid to the Native American population, and we’re pleased to see the Center for Rural Affairs addressing the needs of fresh food access and nutrition education.”
Newman’s Own Foundation has supported food and nutrition programs for 35 years.
