FRANKFORT, Ind. (Tuesday, September 21, 2021) — Perdue Farms, through its Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, has awarded a $5,275 grant to Learning Network of Clinton County and its new comprehensive citizenship and naturalization course to immigrants.

“This new course, offered at three different times to accommodate all work shifts, draws its content from materials provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services,” said Melinda Grismer, Learning Network Director. “The course instructor, Keren Garza, is bilingual and has herself studied to pass the citizenship test, so she is familiar with the content and is capable of translating its meaning to citizenship candidates.”

Established in 2000, the Learning Network is a community resource offering programs to improve workforce skills, build knowledge for career advancement, increase lifelong learning opportunities, and provide services to in-school and out-of-school youth and adults.

The funds from Perdue will help pay for the course instructor’s fee, practice flashcards, a subscription to a smartphone app that helps English learners with history, geography and culture topics covered on the citizenship test, a Zoom license for remote learning, and a tablet lending library with Wi-Fi access for adult learners.

“In 2019, the 10-county region that includes both Clinton and Boone counties was estimated to contain a 21 percent limited-English-proficient workforce,” Grismer said. “Within this largely immigrant population, there are many who could benefit from the opportunity to study for the citizenship test.”

Kim Nechay, Executive Director of the Perdue Foundation, said, “Perdue Farms is very happy to support the Learning Network of Clinton County’s citizenship and naturalization course. This opportunity to study for and pass the citizenship test has the potential to be life-changing as it can have a large impact on quality of life.”

Perdue Farms employs more than 900 associates in Indiana and has a total economic impact of more than $630 million.

About The Learning Network of Clinton County Inc.

The Learning Network of Clinton County Inc. is a community-based organization offering programs to enhance workforce skills, build knowledge for career potential, enhance lifelong learning opportunities, and provide service to in-school and out-of-school youth and adults. The Learning Network’s partnerships extend to nearly every local non-profit agency, educational entity, and business in the Frankfort, Ind., downtown area and industrial park. To learn more, visit: www.lnocc.org.

About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture^®.

About Perdue Farms
We’re a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Meats®, Coleman Natural®, and Yummy®, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms® and Full Moon®, is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores, and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com. 

Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.  

Now in our company’s second century, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and in USDA-certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more at Corporate.PerdueFarms.com.