The John Deere Foundation supports teachers and students with a gift to the University of Iowa’s nationally leading Scanlan Center for School Mental Health, a partnership between the Iowa Board of Regents, Iowa Department of Education, and the University of Iowa’s College of Education.
The foundation has committed $525,000 to advance research efforts and support educators, students, and their families—specifically underserved and underrepresented youth—in John Deere communities throughout Iowa and Illinois.
Nate Clark (99JD), president of the John Deere Foundation and global director of corporate responsibility at John Deere, says the youth mental health crisis is of great concern to John Deere and its over 82,000 employees. Since its inception in 1948, the John Deere Foundation has provided more than $380 million in grants to support home communities around the world. Its gift to the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health is the John Deere Foundation’s first dedicated to youth mental health.
“There is an urgent need for social, emotional, and behavioral health interventions for youth facing poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, discrimination, and other forms of trauma,” says Clark. “As the only center in the nation with a comprehensive approach to student mental health, the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health is pursuing cutting-edge work that supports marginalized youth across our home communities in Iowa and Illinois. We hope to motivate others to invest in this important work and help educators and students alike to overcome the challenges they face today.”