Annie Cannon-Brookes backs the Foundation

The Financial Review has exclusively revealed a five-year agreement between the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and SMART Collective, the family office founded by Annie Cannon-Brookes.

The Foundation is honoured to receive a transformative donation to establish, develop and run an immersive food education project for primary school aged children, continuing the organisation’s proud legacy. The project will include access to a purpose-built kitchen garden in NSW’s Southern Highlands.

“A child’s early years are key in forming healthy habits and by giving them the chance to grow, enjoy and recycle nutritious food we can make a positive impact on long-term health and environmental outcomes. This is a subject that is close to my heart, and I am pleased we are able to bring it to life in regional NSW with the support of an inspiring and uniquely Australian organisation.” Annie Cannon-Brookes

In each year of the partnership, five local regional schools and five national schools with a demonstrated need for support will be selected by the Foundation to receive grants to participate in the project. It will give their pupils an immersive opportunity to develop lifelong skills in growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh, seasonal and delicious food. This flagship collaboration is expected to commence in the coming months.

In addition to the grant participants, further local schools will have access to the NSW kitchen garden facilities, creating a hub for food education in the Southern Highlands region. SMART Collective and SAKGF intend to use the learnings of the project to engage with government and industry and consider further expansion.

It is one of the first initiatives launched by SMART Collective and aligns with Ms Cannon-Brookes’ passion for education and sustainable farming practices. She said: “I am delighted to be part of this important initiative and to work with Stephanie and her team. To be a small part of their two-decade mission is an incredible honour.”

Founder, Stephanie Alexander, echoed Annie's delight: “For two decades, we have been committed to improving childhood health, addressing growing levels of obesity through positive messages about seasonal, delicious produce and helping our children establish a healthy relationship with food that will stay with them for life. This donation will help us do exactly that – benefiting hundreds of children over the next five years. We are hugely grateful for the support of Annie and everyone at SMART Collective – and we are looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

For further information about the project, please contact Hayley McKee, Communications & Engagement Manager: hayley.mckee@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au