Whole Planet Foundation

Sundance Film Festival: "To Catch a Dollar" Premiere Reception with Muhammad Yunus

The Park City Whole Foods Market store handed out 300 goodie bags to “To Catch a Dollar” (a film premiering at Sundance about microfinance in the US) reception attendees that included Whole Trade Guarantee items from 10 vendors, Whole Planet Foundation calendar, Whole Trade Guarantee brochure, and a Whole Planet Foundation brochure. Associate Marketing Coordinator, Lauren Craig expressed, “It was an amazing experience for me personally to meet Professor Yunus! What a warm friendly, inspiring man who has accomplished so much, and I really loved how appreciative he was of our presence at the event. ”

Human Rights Fair in Santa Cruz

Team members from the Santa Cruz Whole Foods Market participated in a Human Rights Fair and created this display to share awareness about Whole Trade Guarantee products and Whole Planet Foundation.
Thank you Santa Cruz!

South Region Sips Soda for Microcredit

Julie Shamburger likes to reuse things that are slated to be thrown away so when she heard that the old soda machine was headed for the "boneyard" she asked if it could be converted to a 365 Soda Machine for the South Regional Office breakroom to earn money to fund microcredit. Thank you Julie for your inspirational thinking and thank you to the South Region for your support of microlending programs around the world.

Quarry Team Members Auction Pumpkins for the Planet

Whole Foods Market team members in the Quarry store in San Antonio, Texas used their artistic skills to paint pumpkins for Halloween, auctioned them and donated the proceeds to alleviate poverty through Whole Planet Foundation. They raised $300 in one weekend, the equivalent of one and a half microloans (the current average that we fund in the developing world is $187), empowering 8 people to lift themselves out of poverty with access to microcredit. Go Quarry go! And thank you.

Jamboree Gingerbread House

Ryan Olufson created this fantastic Whole Planet Foundation microcredit client inspired gingerbread house at the Jamboree store in southern California.
Love it!

Seventh Generation Holds a Homemade Apple Crisp Sale

Employees at Seventh Generation in Burlington, Vermont held a homemade apple crisp sale raising $511 to fund microlending programs through Whole Planet Foundation. As part of the Supplier Alliance for Microcredit, Seventh Generation is already donating $150,000 over three years, enough to fund 802 small loans for poor women, giving 4,010 impoverished individuals access to microcredit as a means to lift themselves out of poverty.
Lisa Gibbons says " We wanted to do something more ever since Joy Peterson came to our office to let us know about the good work being done. We made delicious apple crisp with our local Vermont apples and topped it off with some Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream and enjoyed the company of our co-workers while raising money for this good cause."
We are proud of Seventh Generation and their commitment to being good to people around the world and to the environment that sustains us all.

Ornaments for the Planet 2009

Tish Bassemir, Guest Services Supervisor of the Lamar Whole Foods Market in Austin has been working with 5th graders at Murchison Elementary school to make a difference through the children's art. Ornaments made by the children are on sale for $5 with all proceeds going to fund microlending programs around the world where Whole Foods Market sources products.
At the Whole Foods Market Sugarland store, Lorie Kramer and friends made reindeer out of pinecones and twigs. Every time she set any out Sugraland shoppers snapped them up right away raising over $200 to empower people to lift themselves out of poverty through microcredit.
Go Southwest stores!

Tish Bassemir, Customer Service Supervisor at Lamar

Ornaments made by school children for sale for $5

Lorie and Ashley and their reindeer

Gold and silver reindeer made out of pinecones and twigs

Lorie and Jerry with the reindeer display

John Mackey Thanks P Street Team Members

To thank the Mid-Atlantic Region and specifically the P Street store for having raised the most funds from shopper donations during the Annual Prosperity Campaign of 2009, John Mackey traveled to Washington DC to visit with team members and congratulate them in person. Team members from stores around the Mid-Atlantic region came together to celebrate their achievement and visit with John. 
We are extremely grateful to P Street and the Mid-Atlantic Region for their very successful efforts to raise awareness and funds, $509,299 in total, to alleviate poverty through microlending programs in communities around the world where Whole Foods Market sources products. Thank you all.

Fair Lakes store team members

a fun get together

Devon store team members

John congratulates team members

such fun was had by all

P Street Store Team Leader Jean Michel emcees

Regional President Ken Meyer and John congratulate team member

Midwest Region Team Members donate "the shirts off their backs"...$5,135.90 worth

Midwest region team members opted to donate the cost of tshirts that they would have received as team member appreciation. According to Paula Kucharski, Midwest Education Coordinator "1,610 shirts' worth of dollars ($5,135.90) were donated to Whole Planet Foundation.  I think that it is meaningful to look at the gesture as a whole:  our region worked as a team to allow that some of us are proudly wearing our shirts to publicly promote and celebrate that it's great to work at Whole Foods Market while a portion of the dollars earmarked for shirts was diverted by Team Members in an effort to underscore one of the reasons why." 

This $5,135.90 will empower 26 individuals with the chance to lift themselves out of poverty! Thank you Midwest Region!

Midwest region team members Annie, Jason and Paula

Wow! $1,823,945 as of March 31st, 2009

You have donated $1,823,945 to empower 9,305 people with the chance to lift themselves, and on average 4 other people out of poverty, providing access to microcredit for 46,530 people living in communities where Whole Foods Market sources product.  Thank you for your generosity and the overwhelming support of microcredit clients around the globe.  Whole Planet Foundation would like to thank every customer, team member and Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partner for their contribution toward making this prosperity campaign a success.  As Muhammad Yunus says, "together we can put poverty in a museum".

Mid Atlantic region, Chagrin store, Woodmere OH cooking hotdogs for prosperity

Mid Atlantic region, Chagrin store, Woodmere OH the BBQ draws a crowd of generous shoppers

Mid Atlantic region, Chagrin store, Woodmere OH thought of "Cookies for Quarters"

Southern Pacific region, Glendale store, Glendale CA creates a sweet frenzy of team members

Southern Pacific region, Glendale store, Glendale CA for the "Whole Belly" bake sale

North Atlantic region, Medford store, Medford MA had many team members kissing fish for funds

South region, Cobb store, Marietta GA was grilling for good

Southern Pacific region, Sherman Oaks East, Sherman Oaks CA kept their guests smiling with BBQ for contributions

Midwest region, Sauganash store, Chicago IL bowled for bucks to alleviate poverty

Northern California region, Sonoma store, Sonoma CA raised awareness with a Whole Planet Foundation video and Supplier Alliance for Microcredit vendor products

Rocky Mountain region, Belmar store, Lakewood CO made root beer floats to empower the poor

Florida region, Sarasota store, Sarasota FL put on a Whole Trade Guarantee Food and Wine tasting to raise awareness and funds for microcredit

Midwest region, River Forest Store, River Forest IL fellow team members elected In Store Educator Joshua with their dollars to be the lucky "winner" of "Pie a Team Leader"

Midwest region, Galleria store, St Louis MO made a special team member volunteer poster for their campaign

Midwest region, Gold Coast store, Chicago IL Johnny Mick went orange, all the way to the color of his hair!

Midwest region, Sauganash store, Chicago IL washed cars to fund microcredit

Midwest region, Evanston store, Chicago IL, Customer Service Supervisor Khanda offered to shave his head if the Midwest region met there goal

Midwest region, Evanston store, Chicago IL, what will he do next year

Whole Foods Market Facilities Raise Funds and Awareness

Whole Foods Market Bakehouses, Distribution Centers, Kitchens, Seafood Distribution Facilities and Regional Offices used their imaginations and creativity to find a way to join stores in raising funds and awareness for microcredit during the Annual in Store Campaign 2009. They held Giving Grills, carwashes with collected rainwater, Whole Trade Guarantee coffee samplings, carnivals and all sorts of other fun events. We appreciate you!

Midwest region, Midwest Distribution Center, Munster IN held a carnival with a clown and games

South region, South Kitchen, Roswell GA held a Spring Cookout benefiting Whole Planet Foundation attended by over 100 team members

Mid-Atlantic region, Regional Office, Rockville MD Fred sampled Rainforest Blend Coffee, a Whole Trade Guarantee product for which 1% goes to fund microcredit

Midwest region, Midwest Distribution Center, Munster IN raffled bicycles

South region, South Distribution Center, Braselton GA washed cars for donations with rain water collected in an underground cistern

South region, South Bakehouse, here's a lucky winner from their raffle

South region, South Bakehouse, funds from their raffle go to alleviate poverty

Midwest region, Midwest Distribution Center, Munster IN chucking bean bags for microcredit

Midwest region, Midwest Distribution Center, Munster IN basketball to benefit the poor

Midwest region, Midwest Distribution Center, Munster IN ducks for dollars funding microcredit

P Street Store Shoppers and Team Members in Washington DC Raise over $65,000

Store Team Leader Jean-Michel Bartolo in Washington, D.C. says "We as leaders motivate and help Team Members believe that we can go further by putting more energy into the things we do." "We were able to make a difference in the world because the whole store and our community worked together toward this common goal." Thanks P Street team members and shoppers!

Mid-Atlantic region, P Street store, micro-massage for microloans

Mid-Atlantic region, P Street store, selling tea made with acaii and pomegranate donated by Genesis

Mid-Atlantic region, P Street store, carwash

Mid-Atlantic region, P Street store, change for change

Campaign Update: $1,844,445 as of April 9, 2009

Whole Foods Market shoppers and team members raised over $1,844,445 in this year's Annual in Store Campaign to empower the poor through microcredit. We are extremely grateful for your generosity and compassion in helping to fund 9410 small loans giving over 47,050 impoverished individuals access to microcredit and the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty. Thank you all.

Annual in Store Campaign raised over $1.84 million

We are so grateful to all of the Whole Foods Market team members who helped to inspire our shoppers to donate over $1.84 million to alleviate poverty through microcredit. This money that you all have so generously given will go a long way toward empowering the poorest of the poor since the average microloan that we fund in the developing world is currently $188. The monies raised through shopper donations will fund 9819 microloans empowering 49,095 people to change their own lives through entreprenership.

Midwest region, Evanston store, team members celebrate and say thank you to their community.

Midwest region, Evanston store's thank you note to their local community.

Khanda, a Customer Service supervisor, vowed to shave his head if Evanston reached their goal during the donation drive. Thank you Khanda and Evanston shoppers!

Elly Truesdale of the Westport store hosted a Whole Planet Foundation Appreciation Lunch to celebrate Customer Service team members in the area for helping to alleviate poverty through microcredit.

Team Members from White Plains, Greenwich and Westport stores were celebrated with a lunch featuring a microcredt client-inspired recipe for mango agua fresca.

Tropical Hair Fantasy in Florida

Nikki Heil, Marketing Team Leader at Whole Foods Market Sarasota, has this to say about an event that she created to alleviate poverty through microcredit:
"On Friday, May 8th, 2009, Whole Foods Market Sarasota held the Tropical Hair Fantasy from 7pm to 9pm.  Guests enjoyed a runway hair show like no other!  Individual stylists and salons competed to design sculptural, elegant and outrageous hair styles that were judged by a panel of experts from the professional hair industry. Guests were treated to a tropical food and wine tasting, dance performances by Fuzion Dance Artist, lush landscaping by Artistree and an amazing outdoor lounge provided by Chillounge Night.  The 2 hour event raised $5000 for Whole Planet Foundation with over 230 guests in attendance. Join us next year for the 2nd Annual Tropical Hair Fantasy to be held during the 2010 Whole Planet Foundation Annual in Store Campaign."

Nikki and friend

The poster

tropical hair of paradise

lovely models

tropical food tasting

the catwalk

tropical hair fantasy

lush landscaping by Artistree and an amazing outdoor lounge provided by Chillounge Night

the runway

the line-up

a super local event with global impact

The Wellington Store Pairs Polo Ponies with Microcredit

Whole Foods Market Florida Region's Wellington store and the International Polo Club raised $3,500 for Whole Planet Foundation. The store’s Marketing and Community Specialist, Lauren Belinsky, had this to say:
"The partnership came about from a large sponsorship that we did through the winter Polo Season.  During each half time divot stomp (yes like Pretty Woman) we gave out Whole Treat ice cream bars for the spectators.  The Polo season runs for about 16 weeks.  From our initial meetings I told their marketing director about our Whole Planet Foundation and all of the good it does around the world.  She was very impressed and said the polo community is very charitable.  She asked me to participate in the last party of the year after the US Open championship game when they have a party and dinner.  She said that in return for a donation of food supplies for the dinner they would give the $10 ticket price to Whole Planet Foundation.  We had a table with flowers, Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partner's products and information about Whole Planet Foundation. I also had Brenna from the Palm Beach Gardens store help me with the tablescape as she is second to none." 

The display

Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partner's products

Lauren and Brenna

Regency Dunks for Dough

Leave it to the folks in Omaha to raise money to alleviate poverty through microcredit while palying ball and taking a dip in cool water. The Regency store held a dunking booth event to raise funds for microlending programs. The trick was that team members would pledge money that another team member would be dunked but they only had to pay if that team member actually got dunked. Well, there must have been a lot of dunking going on because $791 was raised. Thank you Renae Prieto and store leadership Bob Learch and Greg Wormsley for having fun for the foundation.

Alicia has fun before the fall

Brendan is wet but still smiling

caged Store Team Leader Bob

Associate Store Leader Greg got dunked

heckling Renae

somebody's taking the plunge!

Galleria Store "Let's Get Rollin' with Wine" Event

On Wednesday, August 12, the Galleria WFM Store in St Louis Missouri held a wine event benefiting Whole Planet Foundation. Here's the invitation:

"Truly a charitable event! Leave your work behind and escape the summer heat with a mid-week, wine-infused happy hour. Grab your favorite bottle of wine and come share it with some new friends. Michael, the wine guy, will be on hand to discuss the various wines plus bottles he selects special for the evening. Light appetizers, a silent auction full of special wine and goodies, and a very special appearance by St. Louis' own Arch Rival Roller Girls make this wine event like no other! One bottle of wine and $10 is your ticket to a fabulous evening. All proceeds benefit Whole Planet Foundation. See you at the door!"
Thank you Michael, Jill and Erin for making this event a huge success, raising $800 to fund microlending programs in communities around the world where Whole Foods Market sources products.

An Arch Rival Roller Girl

Photos of the Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program and Microcredit Clients

Campaign Update- $1,573,169 as of March 26, 2009

Whole Foods Market shoppers and team members are utterly inspiring in their generosity of spirit in raising awareness and funds for microcredit. Three cheers to all of you for your actions to spread compassion and love in your stores and around the world.

South region, Raleigh store, Raleigh NC celebrates the Supplier Alliance for Microcredit through a beautiful product display

Southern Pacific region, Valencia store, Santa Clarita CA traded books for contributions to Whole Planet Foundation

Rocky Mountain region, Overland Park store crafted a display that features Whole Planet Foundation and Whole Trade Guarantee products

Pacific Northwest region, Tanasbourne store, Tanabourne OR made cookies with children to support microcredit

Florida region, Pinecrest store, Pinecrest FL drew attention to the foundation throughout their store

South region, Winston-Salem store, Winston-Salem NC has team members who are super happy to support our campaign to empower the poor

Southern Pacific region, Glendale store, Glendale CA held a chocolate tasting festival to raise awareness and funds

South region, Poplar store, Memphis TN has a super "hot" donate-ometer and the temperature is rising with each $1 raised

South region, Briarcliff store, Atlanta GA teaches team members about the power of microcredit on their awareness board

Southern Pacific region, Glendale store, Glendale CA offered ice cream sundaes for donations

South region, Durham store, Durham NC Demo Specialist Sherry created culinary delights such as Tilapia from Ecuador with a pineapple mango salsa to delight our guests and raise awareness

Mid Atlantc region, Pittsburgh store, Pittsburgh PA created a graph to help their guests and team members track contributions

Mid Atlantic region P Street store, DC offered the idea that "every penny counts" as encouragement to shoppers to contribute knwing that if each of us does just a little we can help a lot

South region, Cobb store, Marietta GA promotes our vendors in the Supplier Alliance for Micrcredit

South region, West Paces Ferry store, Atlanta GA let the pies fly for prosperity

Florida region, Palm Beach Gardens store, Palm Beach Gardens FL repurposed books to empower impoverished people

Southern Pacific region, Valencia store, Santa Clarita CA gave better bags full of Whole Foods Market goodies to shoppers who donated $25 or more

Mid Atlantic region, Vienna store, Vienna VA team members Hue, Wen and Wilfredo rolled up spring rolls to inspire donations to fund microcredit

South region, South Distribution Center, Braselton GA washed cars for donations with rain water collected in an underground cistern

Florida region Fort Lauderdale store, Fort Lauderdale FL built a foyer to champion our like minded vendors who formed the Supplier Alliance for Microcredit to join us in our global initiative

Northern California region, Harrison store, Oakland CA Kara and her fellow team members were grillin' for good

Florida region, Fort Lauderdale store, Fort Lauderdale FL hung a quote from Professor Yunus above the entrance to their store

Rocky Mountain region, Orchard store, Littleton CO built a tribute to our wonderful vendors who make up the Supplier Alliance for Microcredit

Florida region, Pinecrest store, Pinecrest FL made blades for grocery telling success stories of microcredit

Campaign Update - $1,737,034 as of March 29th, 2009

With two more days remaining in this year's annual campaign, Whole Foods Market shoppers and team members have donated $1,737,034 to empower 8,862 people with the chance to lift themselves, and on average 4 other people out of poverty, providing access to microcredit for 44,312 people living in communities where Whole Foods Market sources product. Incredible!

North Atlantic region, Medford store, team members kissed fish for funds for microcredit and fun

Rocky Mountain region, Colfax store, Lakewood CO added an earth for each contributor

Florida region, Pinecrest store, Pinecrest FL made huge signs for their front windows

Northeast region, Union Square store, NYC NY held an orange party weekend

Northeast region, Union Square store, NYC NY where they all wore orange

Northeast region, Union Square store, NYC NY and even our littlest shoppers got into the act

Northeast region, Union Square store, NYC NY Steven has fun calling shoppers to action

Northeast region, Union Square store, NYC NY cashiers cheerfully engaged shoppers in the celebration

Northeast region, Union Square store, NYC NY where team members show that we can work together to alleviate poverty

North Atlantic region, Glastonbury store, where the "Whole Pie" flies for microcredit

Rocky Mountain region, New Center Point store, Colorado Springs CO hosted a book signing for "The Trouble with the Alphabet"

Rocky Mountain region, New Center Point store, Colorado Springs CO Peter and team member volunteer Kerry gave chocolate dipped bananas to contributors

Southwest region, Wilcrest store, Houston TX popped corn, grilled burgers and made ice cream floats for their fair

Campaign Update- $1,541,733 as of March 25, 2009

Whole Foods Market shoppers have generously donated over $1.5 million dollars in 36 days of the 42 day Annual in Store Campaign 2009. Thank you so much for all that you are doing to empower the poor.

Rocky Mountain region, Kansas City store, Kansas City MO is representing with a beautiful display at the Guest Services desk

Rocky Mountain region, Overland Park store, Overland Park KS has donation jars for spare change

Northeast region, Chelsea store, NYC NY sold a plate lunch to team members to alleviate poverty

Northern California region, Redwood City created a display in the foyer to show Whole Trade Guarantee products

Rocky Mountain region, Pikes Peak store, Colorado Springs CO drew a chalkboard to invite guests to empower the poor

North Atlantic region, Portland store, Portland ME made a display near the registers to raise awareness

Southern Pacific region, Glendale store, Glendale CA held a mega pie smackdown to raise funds for microcredit

Midwest region, created a singing appreciation-gram that can be purchased with a donation to alleviate poverty

South region held delicious Giving Grills

Pacific Northwest region, Tanasbourne store, Tanasbourne OR had children plant seeds to raise funds to plant seeds of prosperity around the world

Campaign Update - $1,480,606.36 as of March 23, 2009

We hope you enjoy these photos of shopper and team members events to empower the poor through microcredit!

North Atlantic region, Hingham store, Hingham MA had a great idea

North Atlantic region, Hingham store, Hingham MA team members kiss fish for contributions to fund microcredit in countries where WFM sources product

Northern California region, Redwood City store, Grocery Team leader Chris displays all the supplies to make "Pan de Coco", a microcredit client inspired recipe

Midwest Region, Palatine store, Palatine IL went bowling to empower impoverished individuals

Midwest region, Palatine store, Palatine IL knows how to have fun and raise awareness through bowling

Mid Atlantic region, Georgetown store, DC grocery cart signage

Southern Pacific region, Sherman Oaks East store, Sherman Oaks CA practices for their big "Pies for the Planet" event

Southern Pacific region, store, held a grocery fund raiser

Rocky Mountain region, Alfalfa's Broadway store, Boulder CO held a FUN-raiser

North Atlantic region, Medford store, Medford MA team member Mohammad is from Chittagong in Bangladesh like Professor Yunus

North Atlantic Region, Portland store, Portland ME created a Supplier Alliance for Microcredit display in their community room

Mid Atlantic region, Silver Spring store, Silver Spring MD repurposed household goods to raise funds for microcredit

Rocky Mountain region, Colfax store, Lakewood CO brought Whole Planet Foundation information out to the front of their store through displays

Midwest region, Galleria store, St Louis MO made banana splits with Whole Trade Guarantee bananas

Rocky Mountain region, Sugarhouse store, Salt Lake City UT grillmaster and Store Team Leader Marc Bird and Customer Service team members Jillian and Kimberly grill for a BBQ Fun-raiser

South Region, Team Member Volunteer to Guatemala Nicole with Green Hills, Nashville TN Front End Team Members leading the campaign for their store

Empowering the Poor through Microcredit

WFM Team Members and Shoppers supporting Whole Planet Foundation and the Supplier Alliance for Microcredit

Mid-Atlantic Region, P Street store, Washington, D.C. grilling fundraiser

Midwest Region, Lincoln Park store, Chicago, IL

Pacific Northwest Region, Laurelhurst store, Portland, OR, spotlighting Ito En, Back to Nature and Stacy's

Midwest Region, River Forest, IL store spotlighting Stacy's

Mid-Atlantic Region, Georgetown store, Washington, DC, Whole Planet marketplace

Pacific Northwest Region, Portland store, OR, goal setting for Team Member Paycheck Giving

Midwest Region, Gold Coast store in Chicago, IL goal setting for microcredit

Midwest Region, Gold Coast store in Chicago, IL Customer Service team

Rocky Mountain Region, Pearl store, Boulder, CO display featuring Allegro and Whole Trade Guarantee products

Rocky Mountain Region, Pearl store, Boulder, CO bulletin board

Rocky Mountain Region, Baseline store, Boulder, CO cart of Supplier Alliance for Microcredit products

Rocky Mountain Region, Belmar store, Lakewood, CO welcome board

Northern California Region, Walnut Creek store, CA, Whole Trade Rose sale at local high school for WPF

Southwest Region, Kirby store, Houston TX, Team Member Rummage Sale and TMAG Carnation Sale

Southwest Region, Wilcrest store, Houston TX, Wilcrest Guest Service team and trainers put their heads together be #1 in the SW

Southwest Region, Sugarland store, Team Member Awareness Group rallies to action

Southwest Region, Sugarland store, Silent Auction highlighting Supplier Alliance for Microcredit vendors including New Chapter

Midwest Region, Lake Calhoun MN, Food Demo to raise awareness for microcredit

Campaign Update - $1,444,598.66 as of March 22, 2009

Your generosity of $1,444,598.66, 100% of which goes to microcredit projects, will empower 7,370 people with the chance to lift themselves, and on average 4 other people out of poverty, providing access to microcredit for 36,852 people living in communities where Whole Foods Market sources product. Thank you!!

South Region, Green Hills store, Nashville TN held an "Art for the Planet" event with original art by team members for contributions

Mid Atlantic region, P Street store, DC washed cars to empower the poor

Pacific Northwest region, Bellevue store, WA Store Team Leader Ruben contributed $25 for the honor of "pieing" Regional TMSC Beth

Pacific Northwest region, Bellevue store, WA "lucky" team members got "pied" for Whole Planet Foundation

Rocky Mountain region, Colfax store, Lakewood CO features Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partner Back to Nature's granola with a happy team member endorsement

Rocky Mountain region, Cerillos store, Santa Fe NM Autumn is showing kids how to make rangoli paintings made of colored salt on paper. These are welcome signs that families in India make and display in their homes

Rocky Mountain region, Cerillos store, Santa Fe NM samples and displays Whole Trade Guarantee and Supplier Alliance for Microcredit products

Rocky Mountain region, Cherry Creek store, Denver CO takes the message outside to the front of the store

Rocky Mountain Region, Cherry Creek store, Denver CO team member Tim shares his volunteer experiences in Guatemala and a laugh

Southern Pacific region, Jamboree store, Tustin CA collects votes in the form of donations to determine who will be "pied"

Southwest region, Bellaire store, Houston TX raises awareness through well placed signage near the registers

Mid Atlantic region, Bethesda store, MD holds "Meet and Eat" events with cuisine from countries like Ethiopia where Whole Planet Foundation funds microcredit

Mid Atlantic region, Charlottesville store, VA made this cool T-shirt for their bake and yard sale

North Atlantic region, Bedford store, Bedford MA their foyer is a great introduction to Seventh Generation and the other vendors who joined the Supplier Alliance for Microcredit to plant seeds of prosperity around the world

Campaign Update- $1.2M as of March 16, 2009

Whole Foods Market shoppers have given generously to empower the poor contributing $1.2M as of March 16, 2009. Thank you for helping Whole Foods Market, our team members, vendors and fellow shoppers to make a positive difference globally.

Southwest Region, Parkway store, Dallas TX Jane awards candles to guests who gave $5 or more at the registers

North Atlantic Region, Symphony store, Boston MA held "I Wonder" trainings on the sales floor for team members and guests

South Region, West Paces Ferry store, Atlanta GA is holding a wine tasting with team member volunteer Bill Parent to raise awareness

North Atlantic Region, University Heights store, Providence RI made register signage that is used around the company

Southwest Region, Lamar store, Austin TX raising awareness and having fun

Southwest Region, Plano store, Dallas TX team member Sam Bifaro won a "Guiness" bike in Plano's raffle

Midwest Region, Galleria store, St. Louis MO team member volunteer Jill Duncan helped to decorate a board to lift awareness

Midwest Region, Galleria store, St. Louis MO made fun team member endorsements of Whole Trade Guarantee coffee. Whole Foods Market gives 1% of sales to Whole Planet Foundation

Southwest Region, Forest store, Dallas TX Christa created a beautiful showcase window to focus on empowering the poor

Midwest Region, Ann Arbor store, Ann Arbor MI Ami offered delicious baked goods in exchange for contributions

Southwest Region, Lamar store, Austin TX thanks shoppers for their generosity with a huge sign

Southwest Region, Forest store, Dallas TX Daniel and Jim collect "Change for Change"

Midwest Region, Lakeview store, Chicago IL Bakery team member Lauren Nunez, who is from Costa Rica, sampling the Whole Trade Brownies for customers. He is excited that Whole Planet Foundation is empowering impoverished individuals in his country.

Mid Atlantic Region, Silver Spring store, Silver Spring MD team member Louella roasted hotdogs for contributions to alleviate poverty

North Atlantic Region, Framingham store MA, team members held an international foods event while Rodney Poles shared his experiences in Guatemala as a team member volunteer

Campaign Update - $1,075,237 as of March 14, 2009

In just 27 days, shoppers and team member have donated $1,000,000, which will empower 4,878 people the chance to lift themselves, and on average 4 other people out of poverty, providing access to microcredit for 24,390 people living in communities where Whole Foods Market sources product. Thank you for your inspiring generosity.

Rocky Mountain Region, Broadway store, Boulder, CO

Southern Pacific Region, 3rd & Fairfax store, Los Angeles, CA Team Members excited about empowering the poor through microcredit

Southern Pacific Region, 3rd & Fairfax store, Los Angeles, CA Team Member Aracely with a traditional Guatemalan highlands blouse (huipil)

Mid-Atlantic Region, P Street store, Washington, D.C., grilling for shoppers and serving traditional stews from Ethiopia and Guatemala

Mid-Atlantic Region, P Street store, Washington, D.C., Team Members of Stew Nation

Campaign Update - $859,000 as of March 9, 2009

Thank you shoppers and team members for your generosity and dedication to empowering the poor through microcredit! In 27 days of the Whole Foods Market Annual In-Store Campaign, you raised $1.2M!  These funds will empower 5,854 people the chance to lift themselves, and on average 4 other people out of poverty, providing access to microcredit for 29,268 people living in communities where Whole Foods Market sources product (given the developing world average loan size of $205). 

Mid-Atlantic Region, P Street store in Washington, D.C., Customer Service is #1! Bezu is from Ethiopia where Whole Foods Market sources coffee and Whole Planet Foundation is funding microcredit. The P Street store is #1 in this campaign to empower the poor, and Bezu is doing her part. She is making dried flower bouquets and selling them for $2 to raise money. Thank you Bezu and P Street!

Rocky Mountain Region, Kansas City, Missouri storefront "You Can Help Lift a Family From Poverty with $1"

North Atlantic Region, Bishop's Corner store, Hartford, CT book club review of Nobel Laureate and Grameen Banker founder Muhammad Yunus' best seller "Creating a World Without Poverty"

Support these Companies supporting Whole Planet Foundation - Supplier Alliance for Microcredit

In addition to fundraising, the Whole Foods Market Annual In-Store Campaign spotlights Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partners, an alliance of like-minded companies planting seeds of prosperity around the world. These valued partners have pledged $1.05 million for microcredit, and to date have donated $361,000 to support microlending projects. Supplier Alliance partners include Allegro Coffee Company, Back to Nature, Balance Bar, Celestial Seasonings, Earth's Best, Ito En, Naked Juice, New Chapter, Seventh Generation, Stacy's, Teas' Tea and Whole Foods Market. We are grateful for their support, and we are pleased to spotlight their products and generosity.

Allegro Coffee Company, Southern Pacific Region, Pasadena store, CA

Allegro Coffee Company, Southwest Region, Bellaire store, Houston TX

Back to Nature, Midwest Region, Lakeview store, Chicago IL

Back to Nature, Midwest Region, Rochester Hills store, MI

Balance Bar, Florida Region, Fort Lauderdale store, FL Supplier Alliance for Microcredit products like Balance Bar

Balance Bar, Rocky Mountain Region featuring Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partners such as Balance Bar

Celestial Seasonings, Southwest Region, Sugar Land store, TX

Celestial Seasonings, Southern Pacific Region, Pasadena store, CA

Earth's Best, Southwest Region, Bellaire store, Houston, TX

Earth's Best, raffle basket Southwest Region, Sugar Land store, TX

Ito En

Ito En, Pacific Northwest Region, Laurelhurst store, Portland, OR

Naked Juice, Southwest Region, Bellaire store, Houston TX

Naked Juice, Southern Pacific Region, Pasadena store, CA

New Chapter Organics, Southwest Region, Sugar Land store, TX

New Chapter Organics, Southwest Region, Sugar Land store, TX

Seventh Generation, Southwest Region, Bellaire store, Houston TX

Seventh Generation, Pacific Northwest Region, Laurelhurst store, Portland, OR

Stacy's, Southwest Region, Sugar Land store, TX

Stacy's, North Atlantic Region, Glastonbury store, CT

Teas' Tea, Southern Pacific Region, Pasadena store, CA

Teas' Tea, Pacific Northwest Region, Laurelhurst store, Portland, OR

$671,449 as of March 5, 2009

Thank you for joining the Whole Foods Market Annual In-Store Campaign and raising money to serve the impoverished in communities where Whole Foods Market sources coffee from communities in East Timor, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, and Nicaragua, bananas from Costa Rica and Honduras, tea, spices and cashews from India, tea from Nepal, rice from Thailand, onions from Peru and produce and dairy from the New York City area.

Southern Pacific Region, Pasadena, CA store artwork cafe

Southern Pacific Region, Pasadena, CA store artwork cafe closeup

Southwest Region, Lamar store, Austin, TX Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Parade, Front End team float "Together, We Can Put Poverty in a Museum" - Muhammad Yunus

Northeast Region, Columbus Circle store, NYC, NY entrance banner

MA Regional VP Jane Mueller auctioned a 2004 "All Star" jacket which was bought by P Street team member Kevin Calendar for $200, a donation to fund microcredit through Whole Planet Foundation. Kevin then donated the jacket to be auctioned again.

Shoppers give $536,344 as of March 1, 2009 in the Annual in Store Campaign

Thank you to all the shoppers, vendors and team members who have joined Whole Foods Market to fund microcredit in the global communities where we source product. We are very grateful for your efforts to empower impoverished individuals to create small businesses to lift themselves out of poverty.

North Atlantic Region, Bishop's Corner store, CT Customer Service team member Leigh spreads awareness

Northern California, Franklin store, San Francisco, holding a Whole Planet Day

Pacific Northwest, Laurelhurst store, Portland OR holds a socially responsible ice cream social

Midwest Region, Palatine store, Palatine IL, Customer Service team members wear orange to raise awareness for the power of microcredit

Midwest Region, Palatine store, Palatine IL, Customer Service Team Leader Chris and Store Team Leader Mike Farmer get ready to get "Pied for the Planet"

Midwest Region, Gold Coast store, Chicago IL, Customer Service Team Leadership- Robin, Johnny and Aja work with Store Team Leader Nicole to "raise the roof" on their donation goals

Northeast Region, Union Square store, NYC New York, team members try Supplier Alliance for Microcredit product

Midwest Region, Evanston store, Evanston IL, holds a 5% day and all the team members sport Whole Planet Foundation t-shirts

Midwest Region, Deerfield store, Chicago IL, "Who is going to get it?" in the Pies for the Planet fundraiser

Mid Atlantic Region, Rockville store, MD, "doing good from start to finish" with Whole Trade Guarantee footprint

Southwest Region, Wilcrest store, Houston TX raising awareness and funds through a "Dare to Pie Me" event

Northern California Region, Harrison store, Oakland CA raffles a basket of Supplier Alliance for Microcredit vendor products

Southwest Region, Wilcrest store, Houston TX held a throwing contest to raise awareness and funds to empower the poor

Whole Foods Market Annual Campaign- Online!

Thank you very much to our online donors who are helping us reach our goal of raising $1 million to lift 25,000 people out of poverty. The total amount of online contributions of the Whole Foods Market Annual Campaign to date is $1,431. Special thanks to all those who have chosen to give online. We are grateful for your continued support. Stay tuned for weekly updates.