The Learning Center! Charter School receives $5,000 grant
Lowe's donates money for TLC! Charter school Greenhouse project

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $5,000 Toolbox for Education grant to The Learning Center! Charter School for the school's greenhouse and Project Green and Clean programs.

The Learning Center! Charter School greenhouse and Green and

Clean projects strive to promote

education in science, garden based learning, nutrition, and physical education. The greenhouse will be used as a supplem entary classroom to educate and promote conservation of the world's natural resources. The greenhouse environment will give the students a better understanding and appreciation of the relationship between humanity and the rest of the natural world.

The greenhouse project is an integral part of the philosophy of The Learning Center! Charter School. A key component of the school is the Garden-Based Learning Program designed to extend the environment of the school's classrooms into the garden. The school's director, Mary Jo Dyer, says, "This approach gives students the opportunity to get their hands in the dirt and experience the magic of seeds becoming plants. The greenhouse will allow our students to be involved in germinating, growing and running tests on a variety of native and non-native plants using the greenhouse as a real world industry working environment."

Ms. Dyer added that the greenhouse is a launch point to learn about appropriate and sustainable agricultural procedures.

"The grant in Murphy represents Lowe's commitment to education," said Larry D Stone, chairman of Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation.

"By supporting local schools like The Learning Center! Charter School, we believe we are not only investing in community projects that are important to our customers and employees but we're also helping schools build a stronger foundation for the children who will be tomorrow's employees, homeowners and community leaders."

Launched in partnership with PTO Today, a leading organization serving parent-teacher groups, Toolbox for Education grants of up to $5,000 are available for the 2007-2008 school year for a wide range of improvement projects at up to 1,000 schools nationwide. Parent groups may apply by visiting www.ToolboxforEducation.com. All K-12 public schools in the United States are eligible.