February 20, 2007 > District health group awards first grant District health group awards first grant New Haven Unified School District's Health Education and Resource Team (HEART) awarded its first grants last week to Searles Elementary School teacher Dawn Townsend. Townsend received $60 for her "Harvest of the Month" project to grow and sample various vegetables. The goal of the HEART program is to recognize teachers who encourage healthy eating and an active lifestyle. The HEART awards are patterned after the mini-grant program sponsored by New Haven Schools Foundation, which also is helping sponsor the HEART effort. HEART organizers Lorrene Ritchie and Elsie Szeto joined Board of Education President and foundation member, Jenn Stringer, in surprising Ms. Townsend with the award at a Searles faculty meeting on Tuesday, February 13.