Springfield, Illinois (December 20, 2022) – As it enters its 11^th year in operation, The BRANDT Foundation awarded five grants to a variety of 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, have strong ties to the agriculture industry and the local communities where BRANDT operates its businesses.

The Progressive Agriculture Foundation – This grant will be used to support the Progressive Ag Safety Day program. This educational program provides training and resources to local communities across the United States to conduct one-day safety and health programs for children, with a focus on hands-on, age-appropriate activities that are both educational and fun. The Safety Days program aims to help keep children and those around them safe and healthy.

The IFYE Association of the USA - The BRANDT Foundation grant will be used to help fund the international agriculture education exchange program, which provides young adults with opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of their work through international exchange and cultural immersion. Since the IFYE was established, it has helped place young adults in more than 90 countries. This unique program provides participants, who might not otherwise complete a traditional exchange program through a university, the opportunity to develop foreign language skills and learn innovative ag methods, while also building high-value skills like communication, critical thinking, inclusiveness, and cultural understanding.

The MERCY Communities - Located in Springfield, Illinois, MERCY will use The BRANDT Foundation grant to restructure its MERCY Communities Food Pantry to include seasonal produce, a variety of meats, milk, bread, eggs, and other perishable items. MERCY, a not for profit dedicated to addressing the crisis of family homelessness by providing housing and supportive services  to foster the independence of homeless women with children and at-risk women with children, has never been able to provide fresh food to clients before and is looking forward to offering healthier options. MERCY also plans to use a portion of the funds to incorporate more cooking and nutrition classes into their life skills programming.

The Illinois FFA Alumni Association - With this grant, The Illinois FFA Alumni Association will fund scholarships and a portion of its annual meeting, which brings together people from around the state to share ideas and support the education of FFA members. Through extensive fundraising and generous industry support, the Illinois FFA Alumni and supporters have been able to give out over 1,830 scholarships to FFA members

The Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery – Located in Springfield, Illinois, The Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery focuses on preventing child abuse and neglect through 24 hour crisis childcare. The BRANDT Foundation grant will help fund crisis meal services for children with special nutritional needs. A portion of the funds will also be used to support their Children’s Holiday Store, the Nursery's largest fundraising event of the year.

“Over the ten years that The BRANDT Foundation has been in existence, we’ve given away nearly $800,000 and helped—in many small and large ways—do a lot of good,” said Rick Brandt, President of The BRANDT Foundation. "These five grants align perfectly with The BRANDT Foundation’s mission, helping support the agriculture industry and fight food insecurity.”

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."

“We are proud to support these organizations and their important work in the communities where we have a presence,” concluded Brandt.