Parma, OH — A $50,000 gift supporting West Creek Conservancy’s Revolutionary Food Engagement Initiative has been awarded by the James M. Cox Foundation, the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications, and named after the company’s founder. This transformational investment will help strengthen access to healthier food experiences for students and families across the region.
The grant will support 30 in‑class mobile kitchen events, five family cooking nights, and additional field experiences that will reach more than 4,500 students and their families across five schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan and Parma City School Districts. Notably, 97 percent of participating students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch, underscoring the program’s impact in high‑need communities. The initiative also empowers students and school nutrition staff to advocate for healthier lunch menus, helping improve focus, wellbeing, and learning outcomes.
“We are incredibly grateful for this support from the James M. Cox Foundation,” said Derek Schafer of West Creek Conservancy. “This investment allows us to bring hands‑on food education directly into classrooms and families’ lives, giving students the tools and confidence to make healthier choices. With so many of our students facing food insecurity, this program has the power to improve wellbeing, strengthen connections, and create lasting change across our school communities.”
The James M. Cox Foundation supports nonprofits organizations that are addressing the most pressing issues facing people in the communities where Cox does business. Its support of West Creek Conservancy reflects a longstanding commitment to initiatives that improve community health, environmental resilience, and access to meaningful educational experiences.
“West Creek Conservancy plays a vital role in protecting natural spaces and strengthening the environmental wellbeing of our region, and as a local partner, we’re very appreciative of this meaningful investment from the James M. Cox Foundation,” said Steve Iannazzi, market leader for Cox Communications. “This grant will help expand programs that connect students and families to healthier, more sustainable food systems, benefits that will last for generations. I’m inspired by the work West Creek Conservancy does every day, and I’m grateful the foundation can help advance their mission.”
Learn more about West Creek Conservancy’s mission at https://westcreek.org/about-us/
For more information, contact:
Derek Schafer
Executive Director, West Creek Conservancy
dschafer@westcreek.org