The Museum of Aviation Foundation is tremendously grateful for the generosity of Perdue Farms for donating $10,000 to help fund our Outdoor Environmental Classroom Project. The outdoor classroom will feature solar panels, a wind turbine, greenhouse, herb garden, water filtration system, and a weather wall. It will be completely self-sustainable and feature hands-on activities for students in grades 2^nd-8^th.

“We at Perdue are proud to invest in the construction of this Outdoor Environmental Classroom at the Museum,” said Wally Hunter, director of Perdue harvest operations in Perry. “This will provide the young people of our region with such wonderful learning opportunities about being good stewards of our environment. What they have planned for this is very exciting!”

The Foundation’s Education Center has already ordered the awning, solar panels, and wind turbine. We hope to have the classroom completed by February 2018 in time for spring planting. The Foundation is still sourcing additional partners for the completion of this project. We have about $50,000 left to meet our goal.

“The Museum of Aviation is very grateful for the generous donation from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, Inc. The new classroom will offer field trips, Saturday STEM Labs, and summer camp programs to students,” said Melissa Spalding, the Education Director for the Foundation.  “This new space will be a great way to teach students the importance of protecting our earth’s resources and environmental awareness.”

Perdue Farms is a third-generation, family owned, U.S food and agriculture company. Through their belief in responsible food and agriculture, they are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services. Perdue Farms focuses on continuously improving everything they do, constantly learning, and sharing those insights across different production methods. That innovative approach is driving change throughout the company and onto farms. This continuous advancement is leading them toward their vision of becoming the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.

The Franklin P. and Arthur E. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company found Arthur W. Perdue, and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. The Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of their associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, they believe in responsible food and agriculture.