Press Release

~25 Florida community garden and greenspace projects to receive grants this fall~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (September 13, 2016) — The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company, in partnership with the Central Florida Foundation, will provide funding for 25 garden and greenspace projects across Florida through the ScottsMiracle-Gro Florida Grassroots Grants Fund at Central Florida Foundation. In its third and final year, the program works to strengthen communities by creating green project initiatives that improve the environment statewide.

“The gardeners are so passionate about their projects and it is amazing to see what they are able to accomplish with the grants. From edible gardens to butterflies and even oysters, the creativity is wonderful. Central Florida Foundation is proud to be a partner in this effort,” said Sandi Vidal, vice president of community strategies and initiatives at Central Florida Foundation.

This year, grants will support a range of projects, including education programs for students at all grade levels and for adults, walking paths in garden areas, edible garden projects to feed those in need, renovations of gardens, and seed and field preparation. The grant program was administered by the Foundation and the recipients are chosen by the Foundation using criteria established by ScottsMiracle-Gro.

“ScottsMiracle-Gro wants to ensure communities everywhere have access to clean, natural areas that enhance lives. We’re accomplishing this goal by instilling value in community gardens and greenspaces and encouraging others to support projects that bring people and nature together,” said Su Lok, ScottsMiracle-Gro’s director of corporate and community partnerships.

Since its launch in 2013, the ScottsMiracle-Gro Florida Grassroots Grants Fund at Central Florida Foundation has supported garden and greenspace projects in every region of the state. A total of 102 Florida garden and greenspace projects have received funding. To date, ScottsMiracle-Gro’s investment in Florida-based initiatives totals $178,500 since 2011.

The ScottsMiracle-Gro Florida Grassroots Grants Fund at Central Florida Foundation is an extension of the company’s GRO1000 initiative, a community outreach effort that began in 2011. GRO1000 aims to help community partners create more than 1,000 community gardens and greenspaces by 2018 in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Latin America.

The company’s commitment to the State of Florida goes beyond funding for community gardens and greenspaces. ScottsMiracle-Gro’s Florida-specific Smarter Solutions for Cleaner Waterways initiative includes a three-year, $5 million commitment to in-state water quality research, habitat restoration, consumer education and green infrastructure improvements. The company is supporting local independent research to determine the sources of pollution in the Indian River Lagoon; results from which will help create solutions to improve the lagoon’s water and wildlife, and create a model that can be replicated for other sensitive waterways. Through its partnerships with additional local partners, Scotts is helping to restore more than 20 acres of salt marsh plants in Tampa Bay, and supporting research on the Bay’s long-term environmental resiliency.

More information about the ScottsMiracle-Gro Florida Grassroots Grants Fund at Central Florida Foundation is available at www.scotts.com/Florida.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is passionate about helping people of all ages express themselves on their own piece of the Earth. With approximately $3 billion in sales, the Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In 2016, the Company ranked in Forbes 100 Most Reputable Companies in America for the second year in a row. To learn more about the Company and our initiatives, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com.

About Central Florida Foundation
Central Florida Foundation is the place for people who want to invest in their community. The Foundation serves as the region’s community foundation and is home to more than 400 charitable funds. The Foundation manages and invests funds, offers personalized service and expert giving advice, connects caring people, businesses, governments and organizations to local initiatives that build and inspire community, and empowers them to make informed decisions that make a difference now and in the future. Central Florida Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, professional advisors and nonprofits. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.cffound.org.

###

2016 Florida Grassroots Grants

• Florida 4–H Club Foundation––Baker County
• Gulf Coast State College Foundation––Bay County
• UF/IFAS Calhoun County Master Gardeners––Calhoun County
• Richardson Middle School––Columbia County
• ReEntry Alliance Pensacola, Inc. (REAP)––Escambia County
• Franklin’s Promise Coalition Incorporated––Franklin County
• Florida State University––Gadsden County
• Port St. Joe Garden Club––Gulf County
• North Hamilton Elementary School––Hamilton County
• Polar Springs High School––Holmes County
• Jackson County BOCC––Jackson County
• Second Harvest of the Big Bend––Jefferson County
• Lafayette Elementary School––Lafayette County
• Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association––Leon County
• W.R. Tolar K–8––Liberty County
• Twin Oaks Juvenile Development Inc.––Madison County
• Barnabas Center Incorporated––Nassau County
• Opportunity Place Inc.––Okaloosa County
• Santa Rosa Historical Society Inc.––Santa Rosa County
• University of Florida IFAS Suwanee County Extension––Suwannee County
• Steinhatchee Elementary School––Taylor County
• University of Florida IFAS Union County Extension––Union County
• Florida 4–H Club Foundation––Wakulla County
• Chautauqua Offices of Psychotherapy and Evaluations Inc. aka The Cope Center––Walton County
• University of Florida IFAS Union County Extension––Washington County

Contacts: Molly Jennings; (561) 681-7683
molly.jennings@scotts.com

Jennifer Fennell; (850) 222-3767
jennifer@coremessage.com