We are excited to announce that the Danforth Center Young Friends are once again leading the Grow Challenge™ Week of Giving. This peer-to-peer, week-long virtual fundraiser is being held from September 19 to 23. With your help, the Young Friends hope to raise $75,000 to benefit the education programs and curriculum of the Danforth Center’s new partnership, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition Innovation Center (JJK FAN), and other regional education outreach efforts funded through the Danforth Center’s Impact Fund.
Will you join us in building a brighter future?
The Grow Challenge is a chance to support the Danforth Center and to help students throughout the St. Louis region be inspired and empowered by science. I hope you will join us.
Davey Oetting
Chair, Danforth Center Young Friends and Grow Challenge
Why It Matters
This year, the funds raised from the Grow Challenge will go toward the development of new education programs at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition Innovation Center (JJK FAN) in East St. Louis.
This new Center was created through a partnership between the Danforth Center, the University of Illinois, and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation. Its mission is to provide quality youth and community programs in STEAM+Ag®, food production, nutrition, and physical activity in East St. Louis and beyond.
By supporting this year’s Grow Challenge, you will help bring some of these programs to life. Your donation will support the creation of equitable STEM education opportunities for students in the St. Louis region — empowering the next generation to transform their communities and the world.
Get Involved
There are many ways you can be a part of this year’s Grow Challenge:
- Make a Donation: All donations to the Grow Challenge will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 while funds last.* To donate, click here, or simply text DANFORTH to 50155.
- Become a Participant: Start your page and reach out to friends, family, colleagues and ask them to support you in supporting Grow Challenge — when they make a donation on your personal Grow Challenge webpage, they help you climb the leaderboard. Click here to join the challenge.
- Spread the Word: Like and share our posts about Grow Challenge on social media—or post about it yourself. Spread the word about the Danforth Center’s mission, and encourage others to give.
Party with the Plants is Back!
We are delighted to announce the return of Party with the Plants on September 23 as the culmination of the Grow Challenge Week of Giving. Join us at the Danforth Center on September 23 for an evening of drinks, music, mingling, and more, all in support of the Grow Challenge. Learn more and get your tickets here.
About the Grow Challenge
Originally conceived as a response to cancelled events during the pandemic, the Grow Challenge debuted in 2020 as the first fundraiser of its kind in the Danforth Center’s history. Thanks to the support of our amazing Young Friends, the Grow Challenge was a resounding success and has become an annual event.
Who are the Young Friends?
The Danforth Center Young Friends is a group of professionals age 40 and younger, who support the Danforth Center mission to improve the human condition through plant science. This mission includes our efforts to enhance St. Louis as a world center for agtech, bioscience, and other industries that are defining the future of our region. Learn more.
*Match currently capped at $15,000.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
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In-Kind Donors
Sponsorship opportunities are available: We welcome direct and in-kind donations. Please consider hosting a food or beverage station or making a donation of products or services to be raffled the night of the Party with the Plants event. Call 314.587.1234 to discuss. Click here to download information about sponsoring.
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