Education Grant WinnerJasper Gonzales

Gardening is an activity where it can be a big learning experience for students, especially one that challenges them. When it comes to horticulture, it can teach you how to manage mother nature, the importance of sustainability, and the ability to understand how our role plays throughout the process.

Jasper Gonzales, educator at Heritage Elementary, was looking for a grant that would help give the opportunity for her students to care for a garden—and it would certainly be a sunny day should that happen! Thanks to Power of the Dollar^® members, her sunny day arrived, and she was awarded a $1,000 grant in December 2024 for her “Wicking Bed Wonders” idea, which she then used to purchase materials to make wicking beds, plants, gardening items, and more, to build a garden for her students!

“I just really wanted to give back,” said Gonzales. “I’m from this community, this district, and we don’t really have anything like this out here. I think it was just really wanting to truly start something that is sustainable and that would last.”

The students have loved every bit of their gardening experience thus far since the grant was awarded to Ms. Gonzales. From putting together the garden beds, to creating rock walkways, to taking care of the plants day-in and day-out, the kids have been invested in this since the very beginning. Having the garden has also opened the eyes of her fellow educators, as well as the community in a whole; it has been a welcome addition to the school and one that will be there for the long haul!

“The students love it,” she said. “It’s just the sense of community. I’ve noticed there’s teachers that have their blinds open a lot more. There’s a ton of birds and butterflies that come by the garden, and you didn’t hear that before! The students have learned about water conservation, the organic approach about companion planting—I’ve seen a significant improvement in their knowledge!”