From kid’s slicing and dicing to sautéing and seasoning, over 7,000 students across the country are rolling up their sleeves and getting hands-on in the classroom. That’s the heart of the ‘Get Kids Cooking’ program–a school-based youth culinary program launched by the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation that helps students build lifelong skills and healthy habits through cooking.
In January, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation invited customers and team members to nominate local schools for the ‘Get Kids Cooking’ contest. More than 1,300 submissions poured in, showing just how excited our communities are to bring cooking into the classroom.
Now the Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 ‘Get Kids Cooking’ grants–awarding a total of $250,000 in 25 schools in Sprouts communities across the country. The funding will support hands-on cooking and nutrition education programs, bringing an estimated 4 to 6 culinary lessons to each participating student. Altogether, that’s more than 28,000 hours of students learning.
One recipient, Catalina Ventura School in Phoenix, Arizona is a proud partner of the Blue Watermelon Project, a Phoenix-based coalition of chefs, farmers, and educators working to transform school food. Through this partnership, students have access to fresh, local ingredients and culinary mentorship that make healthy eating fun and approachable.
“It’s a dream come true for our school to receive the cooking cart and all of the educational resources that come with this program!”
-Janet Ankrum, Teacher at Catalina Ventura Middle School (Phoenix, AZ)
Another recipient, Chets Creek Elementary in Jacksonville, Florida, currently offers an after-school cooking club for grades kindergarten and first-grade students that teaches the basics of cooking. With the ‘Get Kids Cooking’ grant, they plan to expand the lessons to other grade levels.
“The more kids try in the kitchen the more their palates and knowledge expands–it’s a skill they will carry for a lifetime.”
-Nicole Latasiewicz, Teacher at Chets Creek Elementary (Jacksonville, Florida)
Robert Renick Educational Center in Miami Gardens, Florida was another recipient, and offers cooking lessons two days each week. With the new grant, the school plans to enhance its curriculum and reach even more students with engaging, hands-on lessons that promote healthy eating and life skills.
“One of our major goals for our students is to help raise them to become productive members of society. With the grant, we plan to expand our cooking program to teach our students the benefits of cooking and creating lifelong habits.”
-Laura Berenguer, Sped Teacher at Robert Renick Educational Center. (Miami Gardens, FL)
Since 2015, Sprouts has championed school-based gardening and cooking programs, recognizing the positive impact growing, tasting and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables has in shaping a child’s long-term preferences for healthy eating.
“At Sprouts, we’re all about helping people live and eat better, and that mission starts with our young generations. Through these cooking classes, students learn math, science, and problem-solving, all while chopping bell peppers or zesting a lemon, making learning more engaging and fun.”
-Lyndsey Waugh, Executive Director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
Visit the ‘Get Kids Cooking’ webpage to view a full list of the school winners by region. Learn more about the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation at sprouts.com/foundation.