Our Children’s Garden Program, which completed its sixth consecutive year this past summer, has been a phenomenal success and a wonderful addition to our community programs. Since its inception, this program has served hundreds of children in the San Fernando Valley, from all cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. 

For just a $5 per child registration fee, children ages 4-11 learn all about gardening, nutrition, plant science,art and music. For the past three years we have had the great fortune of having master gardener and longtime LAUSD educator Elizabeth Ostrom create the curriculum and lead the program. She has done a stupendous job creating a relevant, accessible and fun curriculum tailored to suit different age groups within the program. She has definitely taken this project to the next level, and we are so happy tohave her as part of our TCCC team. She is here tonight at this event as our guest.

In addition to Ms. Ostrom, we have many people to thank for getting the program underway. The Children’s Garden was a concept that had been gathering momentum at TCCC for many years, and we finally launched it in the summer of 2020. Former County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl has been a pivotal supporter of our organization and helped us a great deal in getting the program off the ground by granting us generous discretionary funds. These funds helped us to build an art shed and to purchase a large shadecloth, and several raised beds for planting. Members of our previous board of directors donated the picnic tables that we use for art and science projects in the Children’s Garden. In 2020, we received a $5,000 grant from Raw Inspiration to help launch the program. The following year, we received a $10,000 “Act of Caring” grant from One West Bank (now First Citizens Bank) to build a beautiful greenhouse, which is situated in the middle of the garden. In 2022, we received a $3,000 grant from the Whole Kids Foundation which helped to pay for planting supplies, art supplies and tools for science projects. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield allocated discretionary funds for the Children’s Garden from 2023 - 2024, and we also received a generous Neighborhood Purposes Grant (NPG) from the Tarzana Neighborhood Council in 2024 and 2026 which helped us substantially in executing the program in the best possible way. We have also received generous sponsorships from Avalon Law Firm, Vista Ford, and US Bank that have helped us expand, develop and fund the program.  

Last but not least, our own Executive Vice President, Jon Tsuchiyama, has donated thousands of dollars’ worth of gardening and planting supplies to the program over the past five years. In addition, “Farmer Jon,” as the kids call him, volunteers in the program at every session, digging his hands into the soil and teaching them all about seeds, plants, and vegetables, and how to be a great gardener.