Sumter County farmer directs donation to Southland Academy

Published 10:00 am Thursday, May 26, 2016

AMERICUS —  Southland Academy has received a $2,500 donation from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund and directed by local farmers, William and Barbara Perry. The donation will help to enhance the school’s technology education. The funds will directly impact the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program, implemented in the Lower School, allowing students to experiment with Lego Robotics. Southland’s faculty uses a variety of techniques to emphasize awareness, stimulate imagination, and prepare our students for success in all academic areas. The need for changes and improvements in technology must be tempered with the soaring costs of making updates, and these funds will make a definite impact on this program.
The Perrys “are proud to support Southland Academy and the impact that the school has on our community.” The Southland Academy faculty and staff are grateful for this donation and appreciate the Perry family for nominating the school for selection of this grant.
For six years, America’s Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers to donate over $22 million to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America. Winning farmers will direct donations to nonprofits to help fight rural hunger, purchase life- saving fire and EMS equipment, support ag youth leadership programs, buy much needed classroom resources, and so much more.
America’s Farmers Grow Communities partners with farmers to support local nonprofit causes that positively impact farming communities across rural America. Grow Communities is one program in the America’s Farmers community outreach effort, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Other programs include America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, which encourages rural youth to remain in agriculture and provides $1,500 college scholarships to high school and college students pursuing ag-related degrees .