03/26/08 Wal-Mart Dollars

Wal-Mart Dollars. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The Washington Apple Education Foundation has just received a generous donation. Executive Director, Jennifer Witherbee explains. WITHERBEE: We were really excited to receive another grant from Wal-Mart this year for the Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) Farmworker/Ag Worker Education Program. And there are several wonderful companies and individuals in our communities that are investing in this grant program that the Foundation uses the funds to be able to assist community and school programs that are assisting farm worker programs scholastically. Witherbee says the funds can help with those kids that just need a little extra attention. WITHERBEE: The funds that we are able to award out of Farmworker/Ag Worker Grant Program assist K-12 students that need some special educational assistance. Maybe it's after school tutoring or it could be summer programs for kids that need a little bit of help to keep pace with their peers In addition the monies will help those families with dual language issues. WITHERBEE: We're also investing a lot in the dual language programs that are operating in schools throughout the tree fruit district. They're taking advantage of having students that are both English and Spanish speaking to make sure the entire class are dual language by the time they hot the 5th grade. Some of the grant dollars are used for adult education in speaking English or making them more self sufficient. This is the second year Wal-Mart stores have donated funds to the Foundation. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.