Empowering Individuals in the Global Community Through Entrepreneurship
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 »Join Whole Planet Foundation in Peña Blanca, an impoverished, rural community in the Lake Atitlán region of Guatemala where Whole Foods Market sources coffee. To empower this community to lift itself out of poverty, Whole Planet Foundation and Grameen Trust initiated a microlending project here in 2006, and the next year Whole Foods Market Team Members began providing community service like teaching literacy skills and providing meals for the children of this Mayan community.
We hope you will get involved and support this indigenous community too:
Fund Pena Blanca school meals
Fund the Pena Blanca elementary school
Fund materials for carbon-efficient stoves for villagers
We, The Green Children, are very happy to announce the release of our single and music video Hear Me Now to help support the work of Whole Planet Foundation and raise awareness about the power of microcredit to help people lift themselves out of poverty.
After our first trip to Bangladesh, we were so inspired by Grameen Bank, its leader Prof. Muhammad Yunus and the power of small loans that we knew we had to write a song! After the song was written, we knew that a video had to be made and this was the result. It was made in Bangladesh to celebrate the incredible women who are clients of Grameen Bank (known as “the bank for the poor”).
Check out our video below and visit us at http://www.thegreenchildren.org.
Hear Me Now is also available on iTunes, and we are donating 50% of our proceeds to help fund a Whole Planet Foundation and Grameen Trust microlending project in Kerala, India, aiming to extend access to microcredit to over 22,000 impoverished people.
Help us spread a positive message: the poor don’t always need a hand out, but with a hand up, great things can happen!
Thank you so much,
Milla Sunde & Tom Bevan (The Green Children)
The Green Children, Milla and Tom, in Guatemala with Whole Planet Foundation President Philip Sansone
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »In this final installment of Dispatches from the Field, Steve visits the Pro Mujer
headquarters in Salta, Argentina and operations in Tucuman, Argentina, where Whole Foods Market sources blueberries. His interviews with Pro Mujer clients, Pinky and Graciela, unveil the power of access to credit in their communities, where these women have been able to build support networks and find access to affordable healthcare services.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »On this leg of his trip through South America, Steve explores Paraguay and opportunities for building a microcredit program in the country where Whole Foods Market sources its organic sugar cane. Steve experiences the hospitality of folks who remember Phillip Sansone, Executive Director of the Whole Planet Foundation, from his days as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay over 30 years ago.
Read the rest of the post on Whole Story, the official Whole Foods Market blog »