District 279 Foundation Receives Grant to Help Advance Post-Secondary Education

District 279 Foundation, a non-profit in partnership with Independent School District 279, recenlty announced it has been selected to receive a $1,000 grant as part of the Restaurant Community Grants program from the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc.

Students will be given the opportunity to visit a technical college, a community college and a four year liberal arts college in Minnesota. Students will research and identify salary, growth, education requirements, and current organizations/companies in the region in their career of interests.  Surveys, peer reports and written reports by students will be utilized to measure impact and track results.

“This program will combine college and career exploration along with college visits,” said Brian Siverson-Hall, Executive Director of the District 279 Foundation.  “Through this program we would like to provide these students a look at what is possible for them.”

Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille and Eddie V’s brands participated in the program. Nonprofits receiving grants support one of Darden’s three key focus areas: access to postsecondary education, preservation of natural resources and hunger.

“Our employees are incredibly passionate about the communities where they live, and our restaurant teams are in a position to understand and help address the needs of their communities,” said Drew Madsen, Darden Restaurants’ president and chief operating officer. “We’re all proud to build on that passion through the grants program and bring real, local citizenship to life by enabling each restaurant to make a difference in their backyard.”