Whole Foods Market News

Whole Foods Market's(R) Whole Planet Foundation Raises More Than One Million Dollars With Prosperity Campaign to Empower Nearly 35,000 Individuals Through Micro-entrepreneurship

AUSTIN, Texas, July 17 PRNewswire — Through Whole Foods Market's Whole Planet Foundation Prosperity Campaign this year, shoppers provided more than one million dollars in donations that will allow nearly 7,000 individuals in the developing world a chance to start or expand a small business through microlending programs.

The funds were donated by shoppers through $2, $5 and $10 contributions given at the registers during the Company's month-long Prosperity Campaign held in all U.S.-based Whole Foods Market stores. Microlending programs supported by the Whole Planet Foundation are implemented by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus's organization Grameen Trust and other microfinance institutions such as Pro Mujer and Adelante Foundation.

"These funds will enable nearly 7,000 individuals to start or expand a small business and considering that a head of household in the developing world typically supports an extended family of five, these funds will indirectly help over 35,000 individuals in the developing world," said Philip Sansone, Executive Director of Whole Planet Foundation. "We are thrilled at the generosity and understanding of Whole Foods Market shoppers to help plant these seeds of economic prosperity."

While each Whole Foods Market store gives on a local level to local charities, Whole Planet Foundation is exclusively focused on globally supporting microlending programs in the developing world. To date, the foundation is committed to programs in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Indonesia, East Timor and India.

More than $25,000 of the Campaign funds raised were raised at the Arlington, Virginia Whole Foods Market store — a region with ethnically diverse clientele and many first generation immigrants. One hundred percent of all funds raised by Whole Planet Foundation are directed exclusively to microlending programs as Whole Foods Market covers all of the operating costs of the Foundation.

"The Arlington community is home to a selfless, caring, extraordinarily diverse and informed population," said Jean-Michel Bartolo, Store Team Leader for the Arlington Whole Foods Market store. "Their generosity demonstrates their commitment to a global community and the mission of microlending."

The small businesses supported by microlending generate income, improving the lives of individuals in tangible ways by helping to provide for basic needs such as food for a balanced diet, building better roofs to keep out the cold and allowing children to go to school. The businesses often expand to employ family members and neighbors and help create a more stable economic path for impoverished families.

About Whole Planet Foundation(R)

Whole Planet Foundation's mission is to create economic partnerships with the poor in those developing-world communities that supply Whole Foods Market stores with product. The mission is achieved through innovative assistance for entrepreneurship, including direct microcredit loans and tangible support for other community partnership projects. Whole Planet Foundation represents a significant expansion of Whole Foods Market's mission to actively participate in our global communities. Whole Foods Market gives to local causes everywhere we have stores through store leadership. The creation of this foundation directly connects Whole Foods Market customers and Team Members to the villages in developing countries that supply us with products. From the beginning, entrepreneurial spirit has been a driving force behind Whole Foods Market's success. In keeping with this spirit, Whole Planet Foundation is dedicated to helping families escape poverty by providing them with access to capital which they can use to start their own small businesses.

Contacts: Donnell Ocker Donnell.ocker@wholeplanetfoundation.org 512.542.0852

SOURCE Whole Planet Foundation

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