ATLANTA - s4story -- Live Healthy & Thrive Youth Foundation, Inc. (LHTYF), in partnership with Axis Capital and The Home Depot, will present the 16th Annual Gardens Are For Kids™ project at Kelly Lake Elementary School in Decatur, GA.

For more than 16 years, LHTYF has invested in Atlanta-area youth through hands-on educational programs that encourage healthy lifestyles, academic achievement and wellness. Through Gardens Are For Kids™, students learn where their food comes from while gaining practical experience planting, growing and harvesting fresh vegetables.

The program provides students with an interactive introduction to agriculture while connecting gardening to nutrition, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), environmental awareness and healthy decision-making.

"Gardening gives children the opportunity to learn by doing," said Dr. Lori A. Manns, President of Live Healthy & Thrive Youth Foundation, Inc. "When a child plants a seed, watches it grow and ultimately harvests something they helped produce, the experience creates a powerful connection between agriculture, nutrition and personal responsibility. We want children to understand that healthy living is not simply a lesson in a classroom—it is a skill they can practice throughout their lives."

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The Gardens Are For Kids™ project is made possible through the support of corporate partners, community donors and volunteers. Axis Capital and The Home Depot continue to support LHTYF's commitment to providing Atlanta-area students with meaningful, hands-on educational experiences.

The garden project is provided free to participating Atlanta-area schools, helping bring agricultural education and wellness programming to students who may otherwise have limited opportunities for hands-on gardening experiences. The program emphasizes that healthy food does not begin in a grocery store—it begins with an understanding of agriculture, the environment and the work involved in growing nutritious food.

"Early exposure to gardening can help children develop an appreciation for fresh foods and the people and processes behind them," Dr. Manns said. "We are grateful to Axis Capital, The Home Depot, our community donors and everyone who helps us put these lessons directly into the hands of children."

About Kelly Lake Elementary School

Kelly Lake Elementary School is a public school in Decatur, GA, offering a Gifted & Talented program. It is one of 91 elementary schools in Dekalb County School District. Students study basic skills such as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition to core areas, students also receive instruction in physical education, art, and music.

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About Live Healthy & Thrive Youth Foundation, Inc.

LHTYF was established in 2010 to teach kids healthy lifestyle habits and encourage the active involvement of parents in the metro Atlanta area regarding the health and wellness of their children. The mission of Live Healthy & Thrive Youth Foundation is to educate, activate, motivate, and empower youth in the areas of academic achievement, health, nutrition, fitness, and total wellness. LHTYF exists to educate children on healthy lifestyle habits, so they are more likely to avoid obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. http://www.livehealthyandthriveyouth.org