Special to Atmore News
Local farmers Joe and Brenda Coker recently directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to Huxford Elementary School. HES Principal Leah Fuqua said the funds will be used to purchase much needed instructional supplies for student use and to provide rewards for academic gains and growth for the student population.
“The support of Bayer and the Coker Family are two of the reasons why Huxford is a thriving rural school,” Fuqua said.
In addition to the Cokers, several students, Bayer representative Riley Stewart, and Escambia County School Superintendent Michele McClung were on hand for the presentation Wednesday morning, August 12.
“We would like to thank Bayer, the world’s largest leading agriculture company, for supporting Huxford Elementary with a $5,000 donation that will be used onsite to provide instructional supplies and academic rewards for students,” McClung said.
In 2023, Bayer Fund revamped America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, making it easier for farmers across the country to find and fund the organizations and institutions that keep their communities thriving. This included doubling the individual donations to $5,000, up from $2,500 in previous years to provide a greater impact to local rural communities.
For more than a decade, Grow Communities has partnered with farmers to direct funds to programs and organizations that contribute to their communities’ health and vibrancy, such as food banks, schools and youth agriculture programs. Since the America’s Farmers programs began in 2010, the initiatives have awarded nearly $65 million to such programs.
“Each year we hear from several nonprofit and school leaders, as well as farmers, about the ways Grow Communities has made a difference,” Bayer Fund President Al Mitchell said. “Bayer Fund is proud to work side-by-side with farmers to identify local nonprofit organizations and schools that are improving rural communities in the areas of health and wellness, food and nutrition, and STEM and ag education.”