Oct 21, 2015

HMSHost Donates a Learning Garden at Hollywood High School to Connect Students to Real Food

Part of Hollywood High schoolyard transformed into beautiful Learning Garden for community to enjoy

HOLLYWOOD, CA—Students and teachers at Hollywood High School can now enjoy a new outdoor Learning Garden classroom where organic fruits and vegetables will soon be sprouting up. The project was made possible by a donation from global restaurateur HMSHost and construction by The Kitchen Community non-profit organization. Roughly 1,000 square feet of Hollywood High School’s schoolyard in the north quad area were transformed from a nondescript, concrete area to a vibrant, outdoor space that is open to the entire community.

“HMSHost is very proud to have worked with The Kitchen Community on this project. HMSHost’s involvement was a natural fit because educating people of all ages about the importance of healthy eating is a value that HMSHost recognizes is important for future generations to learn,” said HMSHost Executive Vice President Paul Mamalian. “This garden will encourage teamwork and serve as an interactive extension of the classroom to empower young people in the community to make healthier food choices by understanding where food comes from. Students at Hollywood High School will benefit from this Learning Garden for years to come.”

Designed to inspire and engage, Learning Gardens are attractive outdoor classrooms and experiential play spaces that connect kids to nutritious food. They are designed to inspire spontaneous play by children and to serve as an attractive hands-on teaching tool for educators.

This Learning Garden features raised curvilinear garden beds that grow a variety of flowers as well as organic herbs and vegetables planted by the student community. The vegetables and herbs will ultimately be harvested and made available to the school cafeteria and students to take home to their families. The Learning Garden also features large boulders for sitting, art poles at the entrance, and a mural painted by Hollywood High art students that decorates the building hugging the space.

“We have seen the overwhelming positive impact that Learning Gardens can make in schools,” said Kimbal Musk, co-founder of The Kitchen Community. “Students involved in a nutrition based education have significantly increased their vegetable intake as well as their academic test scores. Additionally, it’s an absolute privilege to partner with HMSHost and make an investment in these kids’ futures.”

HMSHost sponsored the Learning Garden in conjunction with participating in the second annual Restaurant High Conference, also held at Hollywood High School. The opening of the Learning Garden was celebrated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on October 14.

“I would like to thank The Kitchen Community and HMSHost for the generous support and installation of the Learning Garden in our north quad,” said Mr. Samuel Dovlatian, Assistant Principal of Hollywood High School. “The Learning Garden, along with the mural, creates a place of peace and inspiration in our urban setting. We are looking forward to our first harvest of herbs and vegetables.”