How would you use a $2500 grant to improve your local community?

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Jan. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Are you a farmer looking to do some good in your community?  Or maybe you’re a local not-for-profit or charitable organization that could use a bit of financial help.  Whether farmer or charitable group, the 2018 Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, would like to lend a hand.

First introduced in 2012, The Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program gives farmers the opportunity to win a $2500 grant for their favourite charitable or not-for-profit group in their community.  The online application process – available at www.canadasfarmers.ca - is easy and it only takes a few minutes to complete an entry for the random draw.

"Farmers are a vital part of rural Canada and are very proud of their local communities,” said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada. "We wanted to give them the chance to be a community hero by helping those groups and projects that support rural residents and make their communities stronger."

A total of two, $2500 grants will be awarded in each of 33 regions across the grain growing regions of northeastern BC (Peace River district), Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.   Winners will be drawn randomly from all applications received between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2018.  Farmers may make one entry each, but multiple farmers can apply for the same charity or project thereby increasing the chance of being drawn. 

Charities or community groups can also participate in the program by offering suggestions for farmers to consider. If you’re looking for ideas or not sure who needs help in your community, check out the Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities website and “charity map”, as well as the blog which profiles several previous winners.

The list of charities can include almost any non-profit organization based in rural Canada. Past winners have included 4H clubs; rural daycares; libraries; volunteer fire departments; hospitals; schools; ag societies; senior centres; and other community facilities.

Complete contest rules, eligibility requirements and an online application form are available at www.canadasfarmers.ca.  Winners will be selected by random draw on or about November 1, 2018 and notified by November 15, 2018.

About Monsanto Fund
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Learn more at www.monsantofund.org.

About Monsanto Canada
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto Company. Monsanto is committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce seeds for fruits, vegetables and key crops – such as corn, soybeans, canola and cotton – that help farmers have better harvests while using water and other important resources more efficiently. We work to find sustainable solutions for soil health, help farmers use data to improve farming practices and conserve natural resources, and provide crop protection products to minimize damage from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. To learn more about Monsanto, our commitments and our more than 20,000 dedicated employees please visit: www.monsanto.com or follow us on Twitter @MonsantoCda.

For more information, please contact

Trish Jordan
Public and Industry Affairs Director
(204) 985 1005