We're lucky to have the support of many individuals and organizations. This week, we're excited to feature a story from Dr. Anthony Knight, superintendent of the Oak Park Unified School District in Southern California. Want to read more highlights from our incredible donor and volunteer community? Check out these stories. Have a story of your own you'd like to share? Click here.
Garden Booth at Oak Park Unified School District's Sustainability Fair - photo courtesy of Kurt Weiss
Dr. Anthony Knight, Superintendent - photo courtesy of Oak Park School District
About You:
I am superintendent of the Oak Park Unified School District in Southern California. We are the first USDE/EPA Green Ribbon School District in California and we work hard to help our students learn about developing a sustainable lifestyle and we model this as much as possible in practice.
What's the story?
We hold an annual Sustainability Fair on the Saturday before the Super Bowl, so we call it Super Saturday. That way everyone remembers when it is. It is a huge community event where we showcase our environmental efforts and invite people from the community in to learn about environmental stewardship and connecting with our local ecosystem. We had a booth that was organized by our new garden specialist and she and students made up some beautiful bouquets of flowers and herbs grown by the children in our local gardens.
Rather than putting a price on them, we just asked for donations to support Sustainable Harvest International (and had information available about what Sustainable Harvest International does to help families in Central America). We raised $200 in donations in just a few hours and everyone loved taking home these bouquets.
Organic bouquets prepared by the students - photo courtesy of Kurt Weiss
What did you learn from this experience?
That people like the connection between local efforts, such as our organic school gardens, and helping people around the world develop more sustainable methods of farming to improve their lives.
How are you involved with Sustainable Harvest International?
We have held past drives to support Sustainable Harvest International during Earth Week and at this event.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Our students are learning important lessons in our gardens and we are now looking at beginning a new sustainable farm (1-acre) at our high school with a course to be offered next year called, California Agriculture: Towards a Sustainable Future.
Fruits and vegetables grown by Oak Park students - photo courtesy of Kurt Weiss
Thank you to the students and staff at Oak Park Unified School District for your dedication to sustainability and your generous donations!
Inspired to hold a fundraiser of your own? Contact us and we'll help you brainstorm and prepare for a successful event.
