Whole Planet Foundation

Thank you to our partner The Miracle Foundation for providing this post.

A trip to India with The Miracle Foundation is truly a life-changing experience! Because transparency is one of our core values, we want you, our sponsors and donors, to witness first hand how we are using your generous donations to change the lives of the most vulnerable children on the planet. With this in mind, we offer our supporters the amazing opportunity to visit a children’s home and experience an aspect of life in India that very few people see.

Travel with us to India. We promise that you’ll have the time of your life: meeting the children, helping to transform their home with an improvement project, and immersing yourself in the wonders of incredible India! You’ll be amazed by the bonds that can grow and the profound impact you can have on the children, and they on you. You’ll change each other’s lives.

Become an Ambassador

An Ambassador is a diplomat of the highest rank, who has the authority to speak on behalf of someone else. We call our travelers Ambassadors because, by traveling with us, you have the honor and the responsibility of speaking on behalf of the children. We want everyone to know about them. As you spread the word about our children and the miraculous NEST program, our hope is that you will inspire others to get involved by becoming a sponsor or making an investment in this life-giving program. Learn more about your role as an Ambassador.

Ambassador Project

Every tour with The Miracle Foundation includes a project (or two) to improve the conditions at the orphanage. You’ll work side-by-side with your fellow Ambassadors, and the kids, to improve the conditions at the orphanage. Projects vary depending on current needs and costs, but may include building a playground, adding a bathroom or a kitchen, photographing and videoing the children or another improvement project to help transform the orphanage into a home.

Experience Incredible India

Believing that world travel helps to open hearts and minds and turn travelers into global citizens, we make certain you get to see the real India, both inside and outside the children’s home. You’ll take an excursion to the nearby town or village, where you’ll have the opportunity to shop in the local market, visit a Hindu temple, experience a rickshaw ride or some other uniquely Indian activity.

And you don’t have to worry about a thing because we arrange all aspects of your tour before you leave home.

Be The Change

In order to help cover the costs of the improvement project, your travel fees include a general donation. The donation and travel fees can be fundraised, and we make it incredibly easy with our online fundraising tool. Learn more about creating your own Miracle Campaign and, before you know it, you’ll be raising funds, awareness, and rewriting the story of orphans!

Our Travel Coordinator Barbara Joubert
To learn about the Role of an Ambassador, Upcoming Tour Dates, Tour Costs, Fundraising, and FAQs, please e-mail Barbara Joubert, our Travel Coordinator at Barbara@MiracleFoundation.org or call her at 512.329.8635. She’s always interested in talking with potential new Ambassadors. Or you can take the Next Step and fill out the Travel Inquiry and we’ll contact you. Please be aware that you will not be confirmed for a trip until your $250 non-refundable donation has been submitted.

One of the Whole Planet Foundation’s (WPF) newest partners is helping low-income borrowers in two new partner countries that supply Whole Foods Markets with chocolate. Aga Khan Foundation’s partnership with WPF started with a $500,000 interest free loan to Première Agence de Microfinance (PAMF) in Madagascar in 2012 to support its solidarity group loan program.  WPF chose to work in Madagascar because they source a locally produced chocolate bar from a company called Madécasse, started by Peace Corps volunteers.  Due to the success of the Madagascar loan program, WPF decided to expand its support to PAMF in Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. WPF has dedicated a $300,000 grant to provide microcredit to low-income clients, both smallholder farmers and micro-entrepreneurs in the country’s northern region, where PAMF has a strong track record and there is a great need for financial services.

The grant in Ivory Coast began in early 2013 and it’s already helping scores of low-income families. In the first quarter of 2013, the grant provided loans totaling $11,000 to borrowers in the region of Landiougou. That goes a long way; the average size of a PAMF loan to a new client is $200. Over half of PAMF’s loans go to women, helping their families get through hard seasons and get a fair price for their crops The first group of clients used these loans to purchase local cashews at low prices, which they will then store and sell when prices rise.   Over the next three years, the grant will support PAMF’s group loan program, which expects to add 1,220 new borrowers.

The PAMF story began in 2006, when the Aga Khan Development Network started it in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Madagascar, soon followed by an office in Ivory Coast. PAMF is one of the few microfinance institutions working with farmers in northern Ivory Coast.

These microfinance options have huge value. “It’s important to recognize that the poor—just like you and I – need financial services,” notes Joanna Ledgerwood, former Senior Adviser on Access to Finance for the Aga Khan Development Network. “They help them manage cash flows, build assets, make investments, and ultimately manage risks.”

“Whole Planet Foundation is thrilled to work with PAMF in Côte d’Ivoire because they are providing loans to clients would otherwise not have financial services in such a remote and underserved area,” said Brian Doe, Whole Planet Foundation’s Regional Director for Africa/Middle East.

A sign of how important these loans are to low-income families? Their rate of loan repayment to PAMF is over 95%. Think of that the next time you make a donation to Whole Planet Foundation at the Whole Foods Market checkout.

Just two weeks ago and on the heels of our 2013 Prosperity Campaign, we announced our new 57th project country of Mongolia. We would not be able to continue expanding into more project endeavors and new countries without the tremendous support from Whole Foods Market and its Team Members and customers, as well as the Whole Foods Market supplier (vendor) community that has donated more than $5 million since our inception in 2005. From June through December 2013, Beehive Cheese is donating $0.25 for every pound of TeaHive sold in Whole Foods Market Utah stores to Whole Planet Foundation to support our poverty alleviation efforts around the globe!

In 2005, brothers-in-law, Tim Welsh and Pat Ford, left the fast-paced world of software and real estate seeking a more simple way of life as artisan cheese makers. They traded in their grinding traffic commute for quiet mornings sitting with 500 gallons of farm-fresh milk. They gave up briefcases and laptops for the romance of making hand-crafted cheese: hours spent mixing and warming milk, feeling it thicken and envelope the room with the sweet smell of custard. Days spent following natural rhythms: waking before dawn to welcome new milk and feeling the tired ache of sore muscles at day’s end and months waiting with an artisan’s patience for their cheeses to ripen to perfection. Instead of creating a piece of software or a well-crafted contract, Tim and Pat now turn-out delicious hand-made cheeses they can savor and share with neighbors and cheese-lovers all over. Tim and Pat wanted to bring back the local creamery, so with help from the agricultural school at Utah State University, they opened shop in 2005. Beehive Cheese is among only a few artisan cheese makers in Utah.

Released in 2011, TeaHive cheddar is a “feel good” cheese that is hand-rubbed with black tea and bergamot, the characteristic flavor in Earl Grey tea. The cheese has a bright aroma of citrus, and the flavor is sweet and balanced. Besides helping to give opportunity around the globe through the Whole Foods Market scanback program, Beehive TeaHive cheese is best in class for winning 1st place at the 2012 American Cheese Society competition! After you stop by your local store to try some of this amazing cheese for yourself, check out some great recipes for TeaHive.

This will be our second ever cheese supplier partnership program, and we are so excited to be working with this special artisan cheese company to empower women around the world to change their own lives. Please join us in thanking Beehive for their generosity, and you can keep up with all of the great Beehive happenings by checking them out on Facebook and Twitter.

To try some of this amazing cheese for yourself, make sure to leave a comment on the Whole Planet Foundation Facebook page on the post about this partnership. You’ll be entered to win one of two gift packs, each containing a cut of TeaHive, their Promontory Irish-cheddar and a box of RUSK crackers.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our first weekend hashtag project #WPFhome. This weekend we asked participants to create photographs based on their interpretation of HOME. Be on the look out for more weekend projects coming soon and for your chance to be featured. Here are some of our favorites from the weekend and be sure to check out others here.

Weekend Hashtag Project: #WPFhome

We — @WholePlanet on Instagram — will be hosting biweekly weekend hashtag projects and we want you to participate!

With a team that lives all around the world, we want to give you a glimpse into the lives that we all lead and we are excited to get a glimpse into yours.

The goal of this project is to encourage participants to share HOME — whatever that means to you. Over the weekend we will be uploading photos from all over the world sharing the same thing.

PROJECT RULES: Please only submit photos that you take yourself over the weekend. Don’t forget to tag the photo using hashtag #WPFhome! We will feature some of our favorites on our blog Monday morning.

This picture was taken by me @ladanvi. Pictured here is one of my favorite events in Austin, the Zilker Kite Festival. I’ve been in Austin for 5 years and don’t have plans on leaving!

We can’t wait to see your home!

Thanks to Aimee from Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods, Inc. for this blog post.

Each morning, as I walk into the Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods, Inc.’s corporate headquarters in Ward Hill, MA, the distinct scent of steamed chickpeas greets me. This morning, as walking up the granite slated stairs of the Mediterranean-esque lobby up to the second floor, I reminisced of Cedar’s “old days,” and how our thirty two year old family business became a nationally recognized brand name of Hommus and other Mediterranean Food products within a span of three generations.

The Cedar’s story truly began with a passion and idea of Abe Hanna, the founder of the company. He embarked on a mission of introducing healthy, Mediterranean cuisine to the American consumer base. Soon thereafter, his son Charlie Hanna and childhood best friend Steve Tsakirellis implemented this idea by delivering trucks full of Hommus to neighboring supermarkets across New England. Flash forward twenty five years, and present day Cedar’s consists of 15 Hommus flavors and various product lines such as Mediterranean Salads, Tzatziki, Wraps, & more all produced in a 6 year old state of the art SQF Level 3 certified 100,000 sq. ft. facility. The Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods family believes in creating extraordinary Mediterranean food products, and searches the world for only the finest ingredients in order to provide world class taste (while keeping it local as often as possible.) Each product is hand crafted with the same passion as the first product ever produced by founder.

Being immigrants to the United States from Lebanon and Greece, Abe, Charlie, and Steve were afforded many opportunities to be able to build a foundation for their family business. These opportunities were never forgotten in all the years Cedar’s has been in operation. In the earlier years, as Cedar’s grew, job opportunities were continually given to family and friends, passing the buck forward and creating life changing opportunities for many. Today, Cedar’s is greatly involved in its local community by giving back to local fundraisers, groups, and events- supporting the community and creating opportunities for a community that did so for the Cedar’s family throughout its successes.

Cedar’s takes great pride in being a top national Hommus supplier for Whole Foods Market strongly stands by many of the Whole Foods Market missions and values. Cedar’s recently became the only Hommus manufacturer in the country to become Non-GMO Project Verified and Gluten Free Certified. The company strongly believes in transparency in ingredients, and values the ability to communicate that to the consumers via the platforms of these two certifications. The Cedar’s family strives to make positive impacts on the welfare of the planet and actively invests in the community that helped it grow to a national brand. Because of the synergies in values, Cedar’s is proud to partner with Whole Planet Foundation to provide life-changing opportunities for others, just as they were provided to the founders of our company by our community.

Thanks to  Julian Omidi – Co-Founder of No More Poverty for contributing this blog post.

Billions are suffering around the planet as a result of poverty, but many do not realize how deeply poverty can affect the lives of those who live with it.

When people think of poverty they immediately conjure images of the homeless and the hungry and these are immediate issues that afflict those in poverty. These issues, however, do not represent the whole picture.

Around the world those in poverty may experience a litany of issues that impede their ability to thrive. In developing countries like the Philippines and even in the United States those living in poverty may be subjected to child prostitution. Some of those in poverty suffer from mental health or substance abuse conditions that have resulted in or contributed to their homelessness and impoverishment. Many in poverty lack financial literacy and access to capital that would allow them to transcend their current station. Healthcare, security, education, creative pursuits, clean water, sanitation, and much more are pieces in the puzzle of poverty.

With the billions of individuals living in poverty it only makes sense that those suffering from it fit no specific criteria: The impoverished reside in the United States, in developed countries, in developing countries; consist of the educated and uneducated, veterans, children; transcend age, race, creed, religion, and sex.

No More Poverty recognizes that poverty affects individuals and families in a multitude of ways and so they have set out to address all facets of poverty by providing direct support and increased awareness to charities that work in all areas.

No More Poverty provides charitable support to Children of the Night, which assists rescuing children in the United States from the ravages of prostitution; CES7, which provides medical missions to treat those in desperate need of healthcare in the Philippines; Create Now, which provides creative arts programs to needy children in Southern California; Drop in the Bucket, which works to assist in providing clean water and sanitation in East Africa.

One of the most effective ways to assist those in poverty is through the provision of microcredit financing, an amazing method to combat poverty that is being employed by Whole Planet Foundation. Whole Planet Foundation is currently providing support to over 77 projects in 57 different countries that has helped more than 250,000 clients worldwide.

No More Poverty is proud to provide support to Whole Planet Foundation and assist them in their efforts to enact real and lasting impact in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

We provide increased awareness to charities we support and accept suggestions for further organizations that could benefit from our help through social media. Please follow and like No More Poverty on Twitter and Facebook to help spread awareness and provide us with your suggestions.

By Julian Omidi – Co-Founder of No More Poverty

Musicians for Microcredit™ is an initiative started by Whole Planet Foundation in 2011 as a way to engage the music community and its fans to raise awareness and funds. From digital album and track downloads to in-store performances and benefit concerts, we seek to partner with like-minded musicians and organizations to empower women around the world to change their own lives. To date, the Musicians for Microcredit program has raised $9,372 to fund poverty alleviation projects around the globe! Given that the average developing world first loan size across projects supported by Whole Planet Foundation is $166, this program will create 57 new microloans that will change the lives of 340 people.

Download for a Difference

In Whole Foods Market’s Southern Pacific region, we recently piloted a music download program called Download for a Difference. Select Whole Foods Market stores sold cardboard digital download “CDs” featuring 15 tracks for $5, with $2.50 going to Whole Planet Foundation and $2.50 going to our partners Inspire and Four Winds Trading Company. Now, we have launched this program purely in digital format! Support Whole Planet Foundation and download 17 tracks from today’s leading artists.

Volume 1 Artists include: Bonnie Raitt, The Civil Wars, The Alabama Shakes, Ingrid Michaelson, Andrew Bird, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Matt Costa, Josie Dunne, Josh Ritter, Tim Hanaeur, Phox, Tyrone Wells, Katie Herzig, Wye Oak, OK Sweetheart, Deer Tick, Ivan & Alyosha and Foreign Fields.

Check out a blog post from Volume 1 Artist and Whole Planet Foundation supporter Bonnie Raitt

Thank you for your support of Whole Planet Foundation through this initiative, and we hope you enjoy the first release! Get your copy today before they’re gone.

One of our newest Whole Foods Market supplier partners is Suja Juice, an organic, raw, Non-GMO verified fruit and vegetable blend beverage and cleanse program. What makes their products so unique is that all ingredients are gently cold pressed for the maximum yield of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, and each 16 ounce bottle contains approximately three pounds of organic produce. Once the cold pressing process is complete, the juice is High Pressure Processed (HPPd) to extend the shelf life by about a month. The HPP method gives Suja the ability to create a safe to drink, nutrient rich beverage without the use of heat or pasteurization.

As you can imagine, maintaining temperature is extremely important in producing a high quality juice. Temperature must be maintained at or below 40 degrees on a continual basis, so Suja and Whole Foods Market have been working together to ensure that from the time that Suja places the juice in the box until the time that it is placed in the cold case section by a Whole Foods Market Team Member, the temperature hasn’t gone above 39 degrees. To protect the integrity of their products, Suja has launched their innovative TempTrips program that will randomly test one case from each pallet that it ships.  Upon receipt by Whole Foods Market of the product, the Team Member will see that a temperature device is inside a particular box. For every TempTrip device that Suja receives back from Whole Foods Market, Suja will make a $25 donation to Whole Planet Foundation.

Through product sales this year, they hope to be able to fund nearly 400 new microloans that will give 2400 people the chance for a new life. You can learn more about Suja by visiting: www.sujajuice.com, and we hope that you will join us in celebrating their generosity!

A big thanks to Abigael from Naturtint for contributing this blog post.

International Trade Routes of NY, Inc., importers of Naturtint Permanent hair color recently partnered with Whole Foods Market to help raise money for the Whole Planet Foundation.  We are proud to announce that we collectively raised over $1500!  Without the support of our loyal Naturtint customers, we could not have made this happen. For each box of Naturtint sold, we donated $1 to the Whole Planet Foundation.

International Trade Routes of New York, Inc. has been importing Naturtint Permanent hair color from Laboratorios Phergal in Spain since 1999. We started out as a small business in upstate New York. With the hard work and dedication of the owner, Brenda Boice our company has grown and we are now operating out of a 24,000 square foot facility.

Naturtint Naturally Better Permanent hair color is free of ammonia, resorcinol, parabens, heavy metals and artificial fragrances. The botanical formulation provides protection while nourishing and strengthening your hair. Naturtint offers outstanding grey coverage and is gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

With 29 mixable shades, Naturtint gives you the versatility and freedom to create the perfect color. The Naturtint hair care line includes the Nutrideep Multiplier and Shampoo to keep your hair in great condition without using harsh ingredients.

Go for the green box! Naturtint Naturally Better!