The Matthew Reardon Center for Autism (MRCA) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening. This funding will support the expansion of MRCA’s outdoor learning initiatives, providing students with enriching hands-on gardening experiences that promote sensory engagement, social interaction, and environmental education.

The GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant program helps nonprofit organizations and schools create or enhance youth garden spaces that foster a love for nature and outdoor learning. MRCA will use the funds to improve its garden program, integrating gardening activities into its curriculum to enhance students' sensory development, motor skills, and overall well-being.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous support from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening,” said Jackie Smith, President and CEO of MRCA. “Gardening provides an incredible opportunity for our students to engage with nature in a meaningful way, developing skills that benefit them both inside and outside the classroom.”

MRCA’s gardening program is designed to create a welcoming and accessible environment where students of all abilities can participate. The funding will be used to purchase essential gardening tools, soil, plants, and other materials to cultivate an engaging and sustainable outdoor learning space.

Established in 2000, the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in Savannah, GA, provides autism-related advocacy and outreach across southeast Georgia and operates southeast Georgia’s only accredited, year-round day school for children with autism. To learn more about the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism, visit matthewreardon.org.

The GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant, a partnership between The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening, is designed to support nonprofit organizations and schools in creating and sustaining youth garden programs. These grants help children experience the benefits of gardening, including improved well-being, social skills, and environmental stewardship.