SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, has donated more than $6,000 to Wofford College’s “Growing Greener” program as part of the foundation’s commitment to giving back to the community.

“Growing Greener” is a partnership of Wofford’s Goodall Environmental Studies Center at Glendale, S.C., and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Upstate (BGC), providing an after-school science education and leadership program for young students. The program includes projects in the Three Sisters Garden at the Goodall Center, where traditional Native American crops of corn, beans and squash are grown and then used by the students, with any surplus donated to local charities. A guest speaker from the Cherokee Nation also will be featured in the program to help the students better understand the concept of the Three Sisters Garden.

The funds from the TD Charitable Foundation, totaling $6,238, will allow Wofford to enhance this outreach program for the students in grades 3 through 5 at Mary H. Wright Elementary School and the Cleveland Academy of Leadership in Spartanburg. During the year, three six-week sessions are held for students to explore ideas that are part of the BGC core programs, including educational enhancement and encouraging healthy living skills and appreciation of the environment. The program serves approximately 60 students – 20 at each of the three programs.

“The overarching objectives of ‘Growing Greener’ are to teach Spartanburg’s future leaders about the importance of caring for their environment and how to do that,” says John Lane, director of the Goodall Center and an environmental studies professor at Wofford. “We want to increase these students’ knowledge in the sciences and enhance their academic performance while teaching them valuable leadership and teamwork skills. Most of all, we want to inspire the love of the outdoors and active, healthy living. We believe the experience of learning how food is produced, discovering that it is possible to grow food that is healthy and delicious, and recognizing the relationships between agriculture and the environment, may inspire these young people to make healthy food choices and perhaps to grow their own gardens at home as they maintain habits that promote environmental stewardship.”

Dr. Nayef H. Samhat, president of Wofford, says, “The TD Foundation’s thoughtful investment in this program goes beyond the after-school experience and brightens the future of area families and communities.”

The “Growing Greener” program was created as part of Wofford’s “Thinking Like a River” initiative, initially funded by a grant from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, that aims to shape the culture of sustainability centered on local waters by offering unique, hands-on experiences with area rivers for students, faculty and area residents.

A staunch commitment to active involvement in the local community is a vital element of the TD Bank philosophy. TD Bank and the TD Charitable Foundation provide support to affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and environmental initiatives, many of which focus on improving the welfare of children and families.

About the TD Charitable Foundation
The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A., which operates as TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, and is one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The foundation's mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Bank operates, having made more than $148.1 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The foundation’s areas of focus are affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and the environment. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including an online grant application, is available at www.TDBank.com.

About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at approximately 1,300 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD.” To learn more, visit www.td.com.