Empowering Individuals in the Global Community Through Entrepreneurship
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RESULTS, Whole Foods Market and Whole Planet Foundation held a Nobel peace prize watching party at Whole Foods Market corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas on December 10, 2006. Each hosting organization: RESULTS, Whole Foods Market and the Whole Planet Foundation are partnered with Professor Yunus and Grameen and collectively we are each very excited about Muhammad Yunus receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to combat poverty and empower women.
Simultaneously, Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS, John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market and Philip Sansone, Executive Director of the Whole Planet Foundation, were actually in Oslo for the ceremony.
About 100–120 people participated in the Austin Nobel Peace Prize viewing party, many of whom are already involved in RESULTS or the microcredit movement. Laura Zappi, Whole Foods Market's Marketing Director opened the event and shared news about a program whereby Whole Foods Market Team Members can participate in the mission of microcredit and the Whole Planet Foundation through an employee giving program and an overseas volunteer program. Donnell Ocker, VP of Partnership Development for the Whole Planet Foundation, spoke about their work in Costa Rica and Guatemala to bring microcredit to the villages where they purchase products for the Whole Foods stores in partnership with Grameen Trust. She reported that in less than a year the Whole Planet Foundation has provided over 2,000 micro-loans catalyzing the creation of thousands of small businesses and living up to the company's values of entrepreneurship.
Jim Comer, Austin RESULTS partner, reported on RESULTS' work with the U.S. Congress to promote microcredit programs within the U.S. Agency for International Development and other development organizations. Sarah Siddiqi, CEO of Experience Bangladesh, shared her first hand experiences of interning with Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank earlier this year in Bangladesh. She spoke about the environment of Grameen Bank where ideas are respected and individuals are empowered to act upon their dreams. She shared borrower successes stories and some amazing images.
Then, the moment we had all waited for, we watched the streaming video of the award ceremony. Yunus inspired and challenged us and told about his moment of epiphany, when frustrated by the failures of economic theories in the face of crushing poverty, he crystallized and acted upon the idea of microcredit. This pivotal moment turned into opportunity for millions of people and inspired the creation of microcredit organizations all over the world.
Never one to give up, he is now capitalizing on the global spotlight beaming upon him to challenge the world to embrace social businesses, to not accept poverty as a norm, and to join hands to make a difference in ending poverty. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, the world salutes and thanks you.
Whole Foods Market and the Whole Planet Foundation embrace the ideals of conscious capitalism to contribute to the eradication of poverty and to change the world. We are honored to partner with Professor Yunus and the Grameen Bank, through the Whole Planet Foundation, to promote peace, prosperity and entrepreneurship.
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