Edgerton Hospital Foundation Receives Grant to Encourage Healthy Eating

 On Friday, January 21st, the Edgerton Hospital Foundation proudly accepted a $2,150 grant from the Edgerton Community Fund’s Fall 2021 Grant Cycle of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc.  The money awarded will help support new Edgerton Hospital and Health Services’ educational programing aimed directly at meeting various needs of the community, including obesity and mental health.  

 The hospital plans to start a multi-year program, “Hands on Health,” which is designed to reduce obesity rates by increasing the community’s access to healthy food, regardless of age, mobility, or income. In addition, class participants will experience the secondary effects of gardening, including reductions in depression, anxiety, and body mass index; and increases in quality of life and sense of community. 

 “We are so grateful to the Edgerton Community Fund for their support,” said Ann Heiden, Executive Director of the Edgerton Hospital Foundation. “This grant will help Edgerton Hospital to establish ongoing educational programs, provide fresh produce for the hospital’s café, as well as for the local food pantry.”

 Through the “Hands on Health” program, Edgerton Hospital’s Garden Manager, Mark Dwyer, will run a series of community programs including growing vegetables in small spaces, accessible gardening, and gardening with children.  With the assistance of class participants, he will plant vegetable and herb plants. Later in the growing season, Executive Chef Joshua Ciafullo will use this garden produce in the hospital’s café and for educational classes, with any additional vegetables being donated to the Edgerton Community Outreach. When class dates and times are released, they will be available at www.edgertonhospital.com.

About the Grant. This grant is made available from the Community Foundation’s Buck Jenkins Fund, of the Edgerton Community Fund, Edgerton Community Fund Special Projects. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin is a resource for area nonprofit organizations whose programs and services are working for the betterment of our communities. Grants from the Buck 

Jenkins Fund, of the Edgerton Community Fund, Edgerton Community Fund Special Projects have supported the arts, education, environment, health and human services and historic preservation.

For more information on how you can support your community through the Community Foundation, contact Deedra Williams at 608-758-0883, ext. 7005, email at Deedra@cfsw.org or visit our website at www.cfsw.org. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin serves nine Wisconsin counties: Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, and Walworth. For good. For ever.

The Edgerton Hospital Foundation happily accepted a check from the Edgerton Community Fund. From left, Tracy Deavers, member of the Edgerton Community Fund of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Catherine Idzerda, Edgerton Hospital Foundation Grant Coordinator, Ann Heiden, Edgerton Hospital Foundation Executive Director, Mark Dwyer, Healing Garden Manager.