STORY CITY, IA – Women, Food and Agriculture Network has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. Newman’s Own Foundation gave seven grants this week totaling $300,000 as part of its “Honoring Women Who Serve” campaign to support career development for female veterans.WFAN will use the funds to create an Iowa Women Farmer Veteran Network within its broader network for women engaged in healthy food and farming nationwide. The project will serve Iowa women veterans interested in farming careers. WFAN will connect aspiring and beginning women farmer veterans with service providers, hold two career development workshops, and match women veterans who want to farm with women farmer mentors.

“Women are the fastest-growing demographic of both beginning farmers and military veterans,” said Leigh Adcock, WFAN executive director. “We are excited to begin offering services directly to this segment of aspiring and beginning women farmers in Iowa.”

Iowa is home to 17,835 women vets. The rate of unemployment for women vets is higher than that of men.

The six other non-profits receiving grants are: Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, Washington, DC; Every Woman Works, Atlanta, GA; Swords to Plowshares, San Francisco, CA; Veterans, Inc., Worcester, MA; Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA; and the Women’s Business Development Center, Chicago, IL.

Overall, Newman’s Own Foundation is awarding $7 million in grants over three years, 2012 – 2014, to more than 50 organizations across the country that deal with veterans’ issues such as health, housing, education, career development, and family support.

Paul Newman, the actor and philanthropist who founded Newman’s Own, passed away in 2008. His legacy continues as the foundation continues to give away 100 percent of its profits and royalties from the sale of its food products to charity. Since the company’s founding in 1982, more than $380 million has been donated to thousands of organizations – $125 million in the past five years alone.

WFAN’s mission is to link and empower women to build food systems and communities that are healthy, just, sustainable, and that promote environmental integrity. Learn more at our website. Information about the Iowa Women Farmer Veteran Network and its activities for 2014 will be posted shortly. If you have questions, please contact us by email or call us at 515-460-2477.