Growing Youth
Growing Community
Growing Food
and Growing with SCORE!

Rochester Roots is a non-profit organization committed to the creation of urban school and community garden-based educational programs for youth and adults. These programs focus on providing equal access to high quality, safe, affordable, healthy food grown with earth friendly practices.

            Through this project, Rochester Roots provides the education and tools that teach people how to grow their own nutritious food.  The organization works with teachers, students, parents, elders, neighbors and community partners to transform underutilized schoolyards into urban gardens.  The organization currently works with three elementary schools:  Franklin Montessori School, Clara Barton School # 2 and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School # 9.

            In January of 2007, Rochester Roots approached SCORE Rochester for assistance in improving its business planning.  SCORE counselors met with the Rochester Roots Board of Directors and reviewed their results and objectives.  SCORE conducted a business planning meeting with our Board which helped us re-define the organization’s mission and strategic objectives.  “SCORE really helped us focus in on the business planning process and establish both near-term and long-term planning objectives that are critical for our organization”, Janet McDonald, the Executive Director of Rochester Roots says.

            Board Chair Lee Caine adds, “The mentoring and guidance provided by SCORE has been of great value to us as we expand and improve our programs.”

            SCORE has continued to be available to Rochester Roots as this process moves forward.  McDonald says, “Working toward an improved business plan has given us the direction that we feel is necessary as we continue to educate and encourage people to grow healthy food.  We have found SCORE Rochester to be a capable partner for our “growing” organization.”

            Rochester Roots’ web site is at www.rochesterroots.org. Rochester Roots can be contacted at roch.roots@frontiernet.net or by telephone at 585-232-1463. Their offices are located at 121 N. Fitzhugh St., Rochester, NY 14614

            If you have an existing business or are starting a new one, consider how your company may benefit from SCORE’s counseling. Call for a free counseling appointment at one of our many locations. While you are there, ask your SCORE counselor how you might tap into our 60-plus membership knowledge bank to further address your particular business and industry concerns.