Kids Dig In! Grant
Presented by the Union County Board of County Commissioners, the Kids Dig In! School Garden Grant Program brings hands-on gardening into school communities. At DGTA, this grant funded a raised-bed garden where students learn to plant, tend, and harvest — connecting them to where food comes from and building skills in science, responsibility, and teamwork.
Fruitful Futures Tree Grant
The Fruitful Futures Tree Grant brings fruit trees into school and community spaces, creating living classrooms that grow for decades. The newly planted pear tree at DGTA is more than a tree — it's a long-term investment in the school's green spaces, a source of fresh fruit, and a symbol of growth that students can watch and care for year after year.
Thanks to the dedication of Rachael Fernandes and the support of DGTA's staff and students, these grants are more than programs on paper — they are living, growing spaces where children dig their hands into the earth and come away with something no classroom wall can teach. From seedlings to fruit trees, Deanna G. Taylor Academy is cultivating the next generation of curious, capable, and connected young people.