Poverty is Unnecessary Day events to highlight key 2015 partners
On Oct. 25, Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) will celebrate Poverty is
Unnecessary Day in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of
Whole Planet Foundation’s launch. Select Whole Foods Market stores will
host scavenger hunts, product demos, documentary screenings, and will
give away prizes via social media to spotlight the foundation’s Poverty
is Unnecessary Fund® partners, who collectively have
donated $375,000 this year.
In the past decade, Whole Planet Foundation has funded more than $67
million in small loans to microentrepreneurs in 14 U.S. cities, and in
67 other countries, with 1.2 million microloans. In total, the
foundation has supported 6.3 million people, giving them the chance to
lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
“What a great opportunity to celebrate the 10th anniversary
of the day Whole Foods Market and its shoppers created the seed capital
for Whole Planet Foundation, and to celebrate our Poverty is Unnecessary
Fund partners for furthering our ability to reach the world’s poorest
people,” said Philip Sansone, president and executive director for Whole
Planet Foundation. “The current first average microloan size in the
developing world is $187, which a family can use to begin its climb out
of poverty. Together we can all invest in a future without poverty. We
are grateful to our donors for joining this mission.”
This year’s Poverty is Unnecessary Fund members are Café Spice, CLIF
Bar, CorePower Yoga, Feelgoodz, Food Should Taste Good, Greyston Bakery,
Jarrow, LÄRABAR, Liberté, Mamma Chia, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Navitas
Naturals, Nubian Heritage, ORGANIC INDIA, The Republic of Tea, Stacy’s,
and Steaz.
On Oct. 25, 2005, Whole Foods Market seeded Whole Planet Foundation,
whose mission is to alleviate global poverty through microcredit, with a
companywide Community
Giving Day. On that day, Whole Foods Market stores donated 5 percent
of the day’s net sales, resulting in $525,000 to launch the foundation’s
poverty alleviation programs in communities where the company sources
products.
Shoppers interested in participating in Poverty is Unnecessary Day can
visit their local Whole Foods Market store
page for a list of events happening in their community. For more
information about Whole Planet Foundation, visit wholeplanetfoundation.org.
About Whole Planet Foundation®
Founded in 2005, Whole Planet Foundation is a Whole Foods Market
foundation that alleviates poverty worldwide where the company sources
products. The nonprofit’s mission is to empower the very poor living in
developing-world communities with microcredit and the chance to create
or expand a home-based business and lift themselves and their families
out of poverty. As of September 2015, Whole Planet Foundation is funding
microlending programs through microfinance partners in 68 countries in
Africa, Asia, Latin America and the U.S., supporting more than 6.3
million people with a chance for a better life. To date, the nonprofit
has authorized $67 million and disbursed $50 million through
microlending partners worldwide. Learn more and donate online at wholeplanetfoundation.org.
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