Empowering Individuals in the Global Community Through Entrepreneurship
I’ve always known that I work with some of the nicest, most giving, mission driven people I have ever met. And now I have concrete proof! As of June 25th, over 15,000 Whole Foods Market team members have donated over $1.5 million directly from their paychecks to Whole Planet Foundation to alleviate poverty through microcredit around the globe! Check out this video of team members talking about why they contribute.
How’s that for inspiring? And now for some numbers:
Every year more Team Members sign up to donate. In fact, at our New Center Point store in the Rocky Mountain region, 100% of Team Members donate! Want to get involved too? It’s easy to do. Learn more about Whole Planet Foundation and how you can help.
A huge shout out to the awesome 15,553!
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »
Recently I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Africa (for the first time!) as part of my work with the Whole Planet Foundation. We attended the Africa Middle East Microcredit Summit in Kenya, which was wonderfully informative and attended by dignitaries from all over the world — including our Foundation’s advisor and the “father of microcredit,” Professor Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank.
After the Summit, our team visited Kibera, the largest slum in Africa and one of the biggest in the world. When impoverished people come in from the countryside to live and find work in Nairobi, Kibera is about the only place they can afford to live, often with up to eight people living in one small hut.
Ingrid Munro founded Jamii Bora Trust in 1999 in order to help the mothers of classmates of her sons — the mothers were beggars in Kibera. That initial group of 50 women beggars who joined together to save money has grown to over 260,000 members of Jamii Bora Trust, which empowers families throughout Kenya. “Jamii Bora” means “better families” in Swahili and, as a microfinance institution, they help families create or expand small, often agricultural businesses, enabling clients to buy a cow or tools for irrigation or seed for their crops. They believe that any family, however poor or hopeless, is capable of getting themselves out of poverty.
In October of 2008, Whole Planet Foundation teamed up with Unitus and Jamii Bora Trust, authorizing a grant of $657,000 to fund expansion of loans in the coffee growing regions of Kenya where Whole Foods Market sources coffee through Allegro Coffee Company, providing access to microcredit for over 70,000 families. Our partnership was formed in order to make a significant impact on global poverty by increasing access to life-changing microfinance services for the working poor.
From Kibera, we headed to Nyeri to visit several branch offices and meet some Jamii Bora Trust members, including a lovely couple named John and Mary. Their loan from Jamii Bora Trust has helped them expand their small farm where they have added rain catchment systems for irrigation and are growing sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, coffee and kale.
Thanks to John, Mary and other Jamii Bora Trust clients who raise kale and a traditional Kenyan meal that we ate just outside of Kibera, we developed this microcredit client-inspired recipe for sukuma wiki. The name translates roughly to “push the week,” implying the ingredient’s stellar ability to stretch meals, making them last to the end of the week. Throughout the country, the popular dish is eaten without utensils, with chapati (a variety of flatbread) or ugali (a type of cornmeal mush) used to scoop up bites instead.
Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think. Seems to me that our countries share a taste for healthy food!
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »Thanks to Jimmy Dunne, President of Inspire — a music and branding company partnering on music initiatives with Whole Foods Market — for providing this blog post.
We’re excited to announce a wonderful charity promotion now in Whole Foods Markets across the country. Acclaimed singer-songwriter, Beth Nielsen Chapman, is generously donating to Whole Planet Foundation all profits from in-store sales of her new album, Back To Love. (For a sneak peek of Back To Love, download 3 tracks below for free).
Beth Nielsen Chapman is one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of our time. She’s topped the charts countless times, and her songs have been performed by Faith Hill, Elton John, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Jim Brickman, Mary Chapin Carpenter…to name a few. Beth’s heart shines through her music; listen to the earliest moments of “How We Love,” and you will know Beth. Beautiful, caring, inspiring, true.
Her extraordinary artistry extends to her banner advocacy of numerous causes, from women’s health (Beth is a Breast Cancer survivor), to Healthy Child, Healthy World—and now, the Whole Planet Foundation. What a perfect charity for Beth to partner with— the Whole Planet Foundation fosters creativity and love, empowering individuals to rise out of poverty by means of their own innovation and by the synergy of a community’s collective support.
Beth’s music elevates the human spirit, embodies a hope for collective progress, and offers the assurance that, as she so eloquently sings, “all that matters is how we love.”
Lucky us to share in the songs and heart of Beth Nielsen Chapmen. Enjoy the free downloads, and support Whole Planet Foundation by purchasing Back To Love at your local Whole Foods Market today.
How We Love
Shadows
The Path of Love
Downloads are no longer available, but you can still listen to them through the players above. Thanks!
Photo credit: Judith Burrows
For more info on Beth Nielsen Chapman, please visit www.bethnielsenchapman.com
Jimmy Dunne is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, TV and film composer, and television writer and producer; with songs that have been recorded on 27,000,000 records worldwide and garnered a number of CMA, ACMA, Juno, and BMI and ASCAP songwriter awards and multi-platinum Billboard recognitions.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »
Words really aren’t sufficient in expressing how honored we are to have such generous customers, team members and vendor partners. During our Whole Planet Foundation Annual Prosperity Campaign, you donated $2,269,818 at the checkout registers and online — exceeding the $1.5 million goal!
Your support will empower more than 12,200 impoverished women and their families, living in communities that supply Whole Foods Market stores with product, to lift themselves out of poverty. Including their families, you are part of providing opportunity for about 61,300 people to change their own lives. Your generosity will enable women entrepreneurs like these to create or expand a home-based business such as a neighborhood store, weaving, sewing, raising chickens, pigs and cows, small-scale agriculture, pottery, artisan goods, prepared foods and others.
Visit store and facility events to see how Team Members all around our company are supporting Whole Planet Foundation and connecting shoppers and suppliers to our mission to empower the poor through microcredit. Currently, Whole Planet is funding microlending programs in 18 countries, with 67,014 clients, 98% women, with a 98% repayment rate, supporting 335,070 people with over $7M in funds disbursed through microfinance partners around the globe. With your continued support we can reach more impoverished families who can change their own lives through hard work and entrepreneurship.
Together we are changing the world. Whole Foods Market covers all of the operating costs of Whole Planet Foundation, so 100% of your contribution goes to microlending projects around the globe. Our work doesn’t end with this campaign and neither does your opportunity to help. Go online to donate anytime and together we can continue to change the world. Thank you.
As the Director of Partnership Development and Internal Programs for Whole Planet Foundation, Joy Peterson helps develop strategic partnerships and guides our Team Member Volunteer Program.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »As the Director of Partnership Development and Internal Programs for Whole Planet Foundation, Joy Peterson helps develop strategic partnerships and guides our Team Member Volunteer Program.
Two weeks ago Whole Planet Foundation announced our Changing The World, Together campaign to raise $1.5 million for 40,000 impoverished people living in communities around the globe where Whole Foods Market sources products. We are off to an excellent start with over $750,000 so far. Thank you! Don’t forget you have until March 31st to donate at our stores or online.
One of the heart-warming aspects of the fundraising side of things with Whole Planet Foundation is having the opportunity to partner with like-minded companies who are committed to planting seeds of prosperity around the world. Our Supplier Alliance for Microcredit was created with founding members 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, of course, Whole Foods Market. Along with our newest member, Cascal, this alliance has pledged $1.2 million to support our microlending programs.
Getting the opportunity to meet and work with the people who make up these companies is a pleasure and a privilege. They are committed to supporting microcredit as an opportunity for poor women to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Just a quick refresher: microcredit is small loans – usually less than $200 – requiring no collateral or contract provided to the poor to create or expand home-based businesses such as neighborhood stores, weaving, sewing, raising chickens, pigs and cows, small-scale agriculture, pottery, artisan goods, prepared foods and many more.
For the last two years I’ve been working with Joe Browne and Susan Johnson, both with the sales team at Seventh Generation. (Who, by the way, is doing some great work regarding sustainable palm oil.) Joe says their inspiration to participate in the Supplier Alliance for Microcredit is due to “the tangible benefits of adopting a holistic approach to ending the cycle of women locked in persistent poverty. We believe that by employing these kinds of sustainable business practices today we will enable future generations to live better tomorrow. We incorporate social, economic, environmental and ethical factors into all of our organization’s business strategy, decision-making and daily operations. Whole Planet Foundation is a wonderful example of how we partner with other like-minded organizations.”
Last year, Susan traveled to Kenya to provide community service and witness the Whole Planet Foundation-supported microlending project in coffee-growing communities with microfinance institution partner Jamii Bora Trust. She explains, “On August 19th I traveled with the Jamii Bora Trust team to one of the new centers made possible by the Whole Planet Foundation grant in Nyeri. I met over 20 loan recipients and visited some of their businesses, met many of their children plus spent time with the incredible staff of the new center. They were so proud and appreciative that we visited and wanted us to bring back their big ‘Thank You’ to Whole Planet Foundation for the grant that made their program in the coffee producing North District of Kenya a reality. This was one of the highlights of my four-month sabbatical in Africa.”
It’s a highlight for me to see the outpouring of support – from Supplier Alliance partners to Whole Foods Market shoppers and team members. We are Changing the World, Together.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »…With these recipes inspired by Whole Planet Foundation microcredit clients.
Whole Planet Foundation empowers entrepreneurs in our global communities through microcredit, and this month marks the beginning of Whole Planet Foundation’s Annual Prosperity Campaign. Now through March 31st, please join fellow Whole Foods Market shoppers, team members, Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partners and online donors to help raise $1.5 million for 40,000 impoverished people living in communities around the globe where Whole Foods Market sources products. These people, places and products have inspired us to create recipes honoring them.
To get in the spirit, check out these recipes inspired by Whole Planet Foundation microcredit clients from around the world:
Vegetable Biryani with Cashews
This satisfying vegetarian recipe was inspired by microcredit clients in India, where Whole Foods Market sources cashews.
Euceria, a baker and Whole Planet Foundation microcredit client, lives in the Caribbean coastal village of Guadalupe, Honduras. Pan de coco (coconut bread) is a regional staple and was the inspiration for our recipe.
Guatemalan Chicken Stew with Tomatillo Sauce
This stew was inspired by microcredit clients in Guatemala. Serve it with corn tortillas on the side for soaking up the rich and tangy tomatillo and green onion sauce.
Whole Planet Foundation Team Members had the pleasure of meeting Norzina, a lumber and charcoal vendor and microcredit client of Fonkoze, Whole Planet Foundation’s implementing partner in Haiti, on a recent trip and watched her make this traditional recipe.
We decided to create this hearty, highly flavorful vegetarian stew after seeing photos of microcredit clients in Ethiopia roasting chickpeas. This recipe was inspired by Letegebrieal, a Whole Planet Foundation entrepreneur who runs a chickpea roasting business.
Whole Foods Market sources onions from the Arequipa region of Peru. This soup is satisfying and simple to prepare.
The trick with making agua fresca (Spanish for “fresh water”) is to infuse the water with fruit essence without turning it into a smoothie or slushy drink. This recipe was inspired by Maria, a street food vendor and Whole Planet Foundation microcredit client who lives in León, Nicaragua.
Gallo pinto, or “spotted rooster,” gets its name from the black beans and their dark liquid that speckle the rice. This national dish of Costa Rica and Nicaragua is frequently served alongside fried eggs, meat or plantains. This recipe was also inspired by Maria.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »
Together, we really can change the world. Actually, It’s already happening and with your donation during Whole Planet Foundation’s Annual Prosperity Campaign, we can do even more.
Now through March 31st, please join fellow Whole Foods Market shoppers, team members, Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partners and online donors to help raise $1.5 million for 40,000 impoverished people living in communities around the globe where Whole Foods Market sources products. We run this campaign each year to give back globally and empower the very poor with microcredit loans to create or expand home-based businesses such as weaving, raising chickens and small-scale agriculture, providing an opportunity to lift themselves and their family out of poverty.
Whole Planet Foundation currently funds microcredit for 57,706 clients (98% of them women) with a repayment rate of 97.7%! We support the very poor in 18 countries that supply Whole Foods Market stores with product, including Argentina (blueberries), Bolivia (cacao), Costa Rica (bananas), the Dominican Republic (cacao), East Timor (coffee), Ethiopia (coffee), Guatemala (coffee), Haiti (mangos), Honduras (coffee), India (cashews), Indonesia (coffee), Kenya (coffee), Nepal (tea), Nicaragua (coffee), Peru (onions), Thailand (rice), Turkey (spices) and the United States (dairy and produce). Including the families of our borrowers, we are supporting over 288,530 people with $6.6 million disbursed through trusted microfinance institution partners. With your help, we can empower even more people to change their own lives.
Make a $1 donation at the register at your local Whole Foods Market, and give with confidence that 100% of your contribution benefits microcredit clients because Whole Foods Market covers all operating expenses for Whole Planet Foundation. If you’re not near a U.S. store, donate online or start your own campaign on Whole Planet Foundation’s website and spread awareness to your friends and family about how together we can change the world. Check in daily for campaign progress and thank you for your generosity.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »
As the Internal Programs Ambassador with Whole Planet Foundation I know I am truly blessed, but my recent trip to Haiti with Programs Manager Steve Wanta reminded me just how much. Though prepared for tough conditions, I was shocked at the devastation caused by four tropical storms in 2008 and the level of poverty. Then I met Norzina, who is strong and resilient and changing her own life with access to microcredit from Fonkoze (our partner organization). I feel blessed that we, Whole Planet Foundation, Whole Foods Market, Team Members, shoppers, vendors and Fonkoze are all working together to offer women like Norzina the gift of microcredit.
Whole Foods Market sources Whole Trade Guarantee mangoes from Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Inspired by this connection, Whole Planet Foundation provided a $490,249 grant over three years to our implementing partner, Fonkoze, who offers financial services tailored to meet the needs of impoverished Haitians.
One of my favorite parts of our trip was when Norzina invited us to join her in cooking Soupe Joumou, a delicious pumpkin soup known as “Liberation Soup (recipe).” Watch this video to learn why.
updated 12/28/09
The New Year is fast approaching and you don’t want to get caught with a calendar that is “so last year” still hanging on your wall. Here to help is the third annual edition of the Whole Planet Foundation calendar featuring beautiful photographs of inspiring entrepreneurs from Peru, Bolivia, India, Haiti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, the United States and East Timor.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill calendar! This one not only helps you keep track of your busy life but also helps you save on your favorite products with over $30 in coupons and ALL PROCEEDS from the sale of these calendars benefit Whole Planet Foundation microcredit clients. All that for $2. Seriously, $2.
Last year, our shoppers purchased $72,000 in calendars and empowered 1,775 poor women and their family members with microloans to create or expand a home-based business and create prosperity. These women live in communities where the products you purchase at Whole Foods Market are sourced. We’re hoping to raise a bit more this year so we can empower 2,000 more women with an opportunity to change their own lives and lift themselves out of poverty.
And if that wasn’t incentive enough, our vendor partners came through with some great coupons to sweeten the deal. 
$3 off from New Chapter, $3 off Seventh Generation, $2 off GoodBelly, $1 off Ben & Jerry’s, $1 off Nature’s Path, $1 off Muir Glen, $1 off Whole Trade Guarantee Vegan Sugar, just to name a few. You can see the whole coupon list for more incentive.
Pick up your copy (or two or three!) of the Whole Planet Foundation 2010 Calendar in your local U.S. Whole Foods Market store through January. Thanks for your help in making this a happy New Year… in more ways than one.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »A huge shout out goes to everyone who supported the Whole Planet Foundation’s 2009 Prosperity Campaign. Thanks to the generosity of shoppers and team members, over $1.8 million was donated – 100% of which goes to microlending programs! (Remember, Whole Foods Market covers all operating expenses of Whole Planet Foundation).
Our Team Members put lots of energy into sharing information about Whole Planet Foundation with our customers. As an incentive and reward for all of their hard work, several Team Members were treated to a trip to Guatemala where they met local participants and experienced the power of microcredit firsthand. (Trips paid for by Whole Foods Market – not on the dime of the Foundation!).
Here’s a video that takes us along on a bit of their journey.
Whole Planet Foundation is funding microcredit in 15 communities around the globe that supply products to Whole Foods Market, including Bolivia, Costa Rica, East Timor, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua, Thailand, Peru and the United States. Over $6 million in Whole Planet Foundation microloans has been disbursed through implementing partners to more than 50,000 poor women, with a repayment rate of 97%, enabling them to create or expand small home-based businesses and lift themselves out of poverty.
Stay tuned for information on our 2010 Prosperity Campaign – beginning in February.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »