CACF Announces 2011 Prana Award Recipient

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) announced today the recipient of the sixth annual Prana Fund Award.  Joseph T. Henley Middle School will receive $15,800 to transform the underused Henley courtyard into the Hornets N.E.S.T. (Nature, Environment, Studio, Teaching), an interactive and multi-disciplinary outdoor classroom.  In addition to teaching the benefits of growing one’s own food, the garden provides an opportunity for classroom-to-garden instruction for Health, Science, Math, and Art classes.
 
The garden project at Joseph T. Henley Middle School will benefit over 800 students in grades 6 through 8, with an additional emphasis on engaging special education students.  The garden will feature a greenhouse that will allow the students to grow fruits, herbs, and vegetables during the colder months and teachers will develop lesson plans that incorporate use of the garden. 
 
The Prana Fund was established in CACF in 2006 by Albemarle County residents Tom and Karyn Dingledine.  Each year, the Dingledines, together with their adult children and members of CACF’s professional staff and Governing Board, review proposals from eligible nonprofit agencies.  This year’s Prana Fund Award was directed toward organizations working in Charlottesville and Albemarle County that provide programs specifically directed to lower and middle income children and which integrate the environment, animals and/or the fine arts.