From concerts to craft fairs, shoppers took part in thousands of Whole
Foods Market events to raise more than $4.6 million for global poverty
alleviation. The events were all part of Whole Planet Foundation’s 2015
Prosperity Campaign to boost awareness and support for microlending
projects worldwide.
“Microcredit offers low-income individuals real, viable means for
escaping the cycle of poverty, because it empowers them with the
opportunity to take charge of their own life and financial future,” said
Philip Sansone, president and executive director of Whole Planet
Foundation. “With a loan of $200, a microcredit client can start or
expand a home-based business, gain financial independence and carve a
path for a better life for herself and her entire family.”
In addition to attending events, shoppers made donations from pocket
change to full microcredit loan amounts at store checkouts and online.
For the first time, online donors were able to view the overall impact
of their generosity in specific geographic regions via Whole Planet
Foundation’s Power
of One tool. Donors could see how many people their contributions
will impact over several decades as loans are repaid and re-loaned again
and again in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South
America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Because Whole Foods Market covers 100 percent of the foundation’s
operating costs, every penny of the $4.6 million raised will go directly
to benefiting microentrepreneurs in countries where the company sources
products.
To date, through $62 million in grants to microfinance partners
worldwide, Whole Planet Foundation has funded 1 million microloans to
individuals in 62 countries across four continents, serving a total of 5
million people.
For more information about the foundation or upcoming fundraising
opportunities, visit wholeplanetfoundation.org.
Copyright Business Wire 2015