ST. LOUIS, April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In just over a year, the America's Farmers Grow Communities program has given more than 1,200 farmers across the country an opportunity to win a combined $3 million to benefit community not-for-profit organizations ranging from health centers to scholarship funds.  The program, sponsored by Monsanto Fund, is gearing up for its second year and will join with farmers to contribute an additional $3 million to make an even bigger impact in their local communities.

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Since the program began in January 2010, Monsanto Fund has partnered with farmers in 38 states to support the vital needs of the communities where they live and work by giving them the opportunity to direct a $2,500 grant to benefit their favorite local non-profit organization.  

Through America's Farmers Grow Communities, farmers have given local organizations an opportunity to help purchase everything from new greenhouse equipment for an FFA chapter to backpacks full of food for less fortunate children in the community to grain rescue equipment for a town's fire department.  Here's a look at the impact by the numbers:

• 3 most selected non-profits are 4-H, FFA, and local fire departments
• More than 1,200 farmers donated to their community through the program
• 1,204 counties in 38 states benefitting from the program
• 50,000 farmers entered to win
• $3 million given to local non-profits

Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, launched the program last year in order to make a positive impact in the communities farmers and their families depend on every day.

"Monsanto Fund is committed to farmers," said Deborah Patterson, president of the Monsanto Fund. "We are striving to help farmers make an even bigger impact in their communities by investing in organizations that they care about."

America's Farmers Grow Communities is just getting started. Almost all the money from the 2010 program has been donated and the 2011 cycle is due to start in August. This year also brings the launch of a new program, America's Farmers Grow Rural Education.

Earlier this month, Monsanto Fund launched the America's Farmers Grow Rural Education program as a pilot program in Minnesota and Illinois. The program allows farmers to nominate a school district to receive a grant of up to $25,000 to support math and science education. Grants will be awarded based on merit, need and community.

America's Farmer's Grow Communities can be found at www.growcommunities.com and America's Farmers Grow Rural Education can be found at www.growruraleducation.com.

About the Monsanto Fund

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

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com .  Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed .

SOURCE Monsanto Fund