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A Farm Less Ordinary received $10,000 to support its Grower Leadership Development Program, helping adults with intellectual and developmental challenges build confidence, job skills, and leadership experience. This year, the farm is also expanding production with a newly fenced acre and 1,000 new raspberry canes—the first of four berry varieties planned for large-scale planting. A new well is also being planned to support the increased irrigation needs. The expansion will help grow the farm’s jam business, create more winter employment opportunities for Growers, and increase earned revenue to reduce reliance on donations.
“Thanks to the Virts-Miller Foundation, we’ve been able to put an extra $10,000 collectively into our Growers’ paychecks. We are not only grateful for the Virts- Miller Foundation’s generosity, but for the flexibility and discretion they allow their grantees. Many funders prevent grantees from using funds for expenses like payroll, but this is where 75% of our funds go, as our mission is to provide employment. So we’d just like to thank the Foundation for this general operating support!” – Greg Masucci, Executive Director/Co-Founder
The Virts Miller Foundation awarded A Farm Less Ordinary a grant in the 2022 grant cycle that was used to help bring their growers back during their off-season one day a week. Bringing the growers back allowed them to keep the skill sets they learn during the year as well as give them the opportunity to get out of their homes and maintain friendships and positive attitudes.
“A Farm Less Ordinary expresses profound gratitude for the $10,000 grant from the Virts Miller Foundation, which has been instrumental in advancing our mission to provide nearly year-round employment for individuals with Developmental and/or Intellectual Disabilities (DD/IDs). This support helped us minimize the seasonal downtime typical in farming by funding a pilot winter program that reduced layoffs and maintained our Growers’ skills and social connections. Thanks to this initiative, we achieved a 100% retention rate and significantly reduced isolation for our employees during the off-season. Encouraged by this success, we plan to expand the program, continuing to make a positive impact on our community with your generous support.”
– Greg Masucci
