Special Hearts Farm educator receives grant for teaching program

Winter Garden educator Kathy Meena has received a $2,000 grant from Voya Financial's Unsung Heroes program to help continue to cultivate Special Hearts Farm. 

Meena is one of only two winners in the entire state, with the other winner being located in Kissimmee.  

Selected from a group of applicants from across the United States, Meena is one of only 50 winning submissions to receive the $2,000 award to help further fund the Special Hearts program. 

In addition, she now will compete with other finalists for one of the top three prizes — an additional $5,000 for third place, $10,000 for second place or $25,000 for first place.

INNOVATIVE TEACHING PROJECT

Special Hearts Farm is designed to provide twelfth-grade students who have disabilities with an opportunity to learn job skills before aging out of public school. 

The program is the first of its kind in Florida and focuses on teaching skills in organic gardening and landscaping.

Students learn about hydroponics, how to operate farm machinery and even how to create healthy recipes through a “gardening for nutrition” lesson plan. Students also have the opportunity to connect with agriculture-based employment opportunities upon graduation. 

In addition to caring for 60 animals, the students maintain a flourishing garden and make products for the farm store. 

With the help of the grant, the school will be able to purchase additional equipment, such as battery-powered mowers and weed eaters. In addition to accommodating more student participation and job skills training, this equipment will allow the project to operate more efficiently.

UNSUNG HEROES

Voya Financial Inc., a leading provider of retirement plans for educators, has hosted the Unsung Heroes awards competition for 28 years. 

The program awards grants to K-12 educators in the United States to recognize and support their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects and their ability to positively influence the children they teach. Since the program’s inception, Voya has awarded more than $6 million in support of educators through the nationwide program. 

"Many of us have fond memories of the teachers, staff and administrators who encouraged, supported and inspired us," Angela Harrell, Voya's chief diversity and corporate responsibility officer and president of the Voya Foundation, said in a press release. "These individuals are the 'best of the best' and have made a meaningful difference in countless lives across our nation. ... These educators are truly our unsung heroes."

Unsung Heroes is part of Voya Foundation’s signature program, Voya Teacher Voices, that focuses on empowering teachers to become leaders by promoting the teaching career, recognizing high-achieving educators, providing training opportunities and offering financial support to achieve their goals.

Voya Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in communities where the organization operates and its employees and customers live. The foundation provides grants and establishes signature partnerships in the areas of financial literacy and children's education, as well as fosters employee engagement to deepen its positive impact on the community. 

For more information on the Voya Foundation, click here. 

To apply for the 2025 Voya Unsung Heroes grant or to learn more about this year’s winning projects, as well as those from previous years, click here.