Las Vegas Rotary Club Donates $10,000 to Green Our Planet's Hydroponic Program

Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Rotary Club donated $10,000 to Green Our Planet’s “Hydro Connect” program to install a hydroponics program at Kermit R. Booker Elementary School. Hydro Connect is designed to encourage STEM education nationwide and to connect students with the science behind sustainable farming practices, encouraging a hands-on approach to learning and environmental stewardship. 

"We are proud to continue to support Green Our Planet,” said Toni Kern, president of Las Vegas Rotary Club, a civic service organization that has been supporting Green Our Planet for the past three years. “It's more than a donation, it’s an investment in our children’s and our planet's future. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose." 

Hydroponics is a popular method of growing produce without soil or natural light—instead using water, a nutrient solution and LED grow lights. Ideal for small spaces, hydroponic systems can be used year-round and are an easy, efficient way to grow produce without the upkeep required by a traditional garden.  

The Las Vegas Rotary Club’s donation supplied the school with 19 table-top hydroponics systems, a large commercial hydroponics system and a diverse range of curricula covering K-12 Hydroponics STEM, MS-HS Health, K-12 Financial Literacy and a culturally responsive hydroponics framework. 

Kern said Green Our Planet is one of the hundreds of local organizations the club has sponsored in recent years and supports its mission of teaching youth to succeed through literacy, education and life skills development. 

Green Our Planet hosts a semi-annual student farmer’s market where students can sell the produce they have grown throughout the year and learn valuable life skills. All profits from the farmer’s market are re-invested into school garden programs. The next market will be held on April 19.