Date: May 18, 2009

Hofstra University's Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute At the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center Receives National Youth Garden Grant

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … The Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute (CCI), part of Hofstra University’s Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center, received a 2009 Youth Garden Grant from the National Gardening Association, based in South Burlington, Vermont.

CCI was selected from more than 1,000 children’s gardening programs nationwide, and received an assortment of books donated by the National Gardening Association and a $250 gift card from The Home Depot.

Michael Metallo, president of the National Gardening Association, said, “This program was selected because of a demonstrated commitment to actively and creatively engaging youth in the gardening process and to improving the community. We were able to see from their application that the garden program will be sustained for years to come.”

CCI Director Donna Tudda said, “One of the benefits of being part of Hofstra University is the beautiful campus setting. We will use this grant to teach our children about the environment and to further inspire our children’s love of the outdoors and of gardening.” Hofstra University’s campus is a member in good standing of the American Public Gardens Association, one of only 430 arboreta in the United States.

Hofstra University’s Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute offers a quality early education program for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. CCI is licensed and accredited by The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This prestigious recognition has been achieved by approximately 7 percent of licensed programs nationwide and is awarded to programs demonstrating a national standard for quality and excellence in the field of early childhood education. The program focuses on the child's total development - social, emotional, cognitive and physical.

Children and teachers from Hofstra's Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute at the Saltzman Community Services Center will spend the summer gardening with the help of a Youth Garden Grant from the National Gardening Association.

Related Link: Hofstra's Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute