Springfield, Illinois (July 29, 2023) – The BRANDT Foundation awarded three grants to charitable organizations at its most recent semi-annual Board meeting. The grantees, all 501(c)3 organizations in good standing for the past three years, boast strong ties to the Ag industry and the local communities where BRANDT operates its businesses.
IAA Foundation – This grant will be used to support the IAA Foundation’s 2023 S.O.I.L. (Sifting Our Illinois Layers) lessons as part of its ongoing commitment to agricultural education in Illinois. As the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation is dedicated to advancing agriculture research, education and philanthropic activities. Through its Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) program, the Foundation will purchase and distribute soil sifters—each containing six interlocking sieves with varying mesh sizes—to county agriculture literacy coordinators. Introduced into classrooms this fall, these sifters will enable hands-on lessons exploring soil types, water filtration and nutrient delivery. Students will benefit from a deeper understanding of agriculture’s reliance on healthy soil, while teachers will receive grade-level appropriate lesson plans aligned with STEM standards. The BRANDT Foundation’s contribution will be recognized in every classroom kit, and awareness of this partnership will be amplified through ag media channels reaching thousands of Illinois Farm Bureau members.
Bethlehem Center – Located in Visalia, California, the Bethlehem Center has served the underserved for 38 years by providing meals, grocery boxes and seasonal clothing. The BRANDT Foundation grant for the Center’s 2023 Nourishing our Communities project will help ensure that families, seniors, homeless individuals and the working poor can access wholesome, balanced meals. Along with daily hot meals for those in need, the Center distributes pantry boxes containing produce, dairy and protein products, in addition to non-perishable items. The funds will also allow Bethlehem Center to continue offering appropriate seasonal clothing and emergency supplies. The Bethlehem Center anticipates providing meals for 83,500 individuals this year, with pantry boxes designed to supply a family with food for an entire week.
Grace Lutheran Food Pantry – An agency of the Central Illinois Food Bank, the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry has operated in downtown Springfield for 50 years, relying entirely on volunteers and donations. In 2022, it served 6,975 households comprising 16,917 individuals—a 40% increase over the previous year—with numbers continuing to climb in 2023. This BRANDT Foundation grant will help sustain the Pantry’s priority of offering healthier food options, including milk, eggs and bread for every client. With weekly costs nearing $800, the Pantry has found it increasingly difficult to support these staple items. The Foundation’s support will enable the Pantry to continue ensuring that low-income families, seniors and homeless individuals receive fresh, nutritious foods alongside the traditional non-perishable goods.
“All these grants directly connect to the agriculture industry and support food security in communities where we have a presence,” said Rick Brandt, President of The BRANDT Foundation. “We are proud to stand by these organizations as they work to enrich lives through agriculture, nutrition, education and community service.”
The BRANDT Foundation is a private foundation funded through donations from BRANDT, Team BRANDT employees and other generous supporters. Its mission is "to provide meaningful assistance and support to the communities, farms and families where BRANDT has facilities."