Emeryville, Calif. (Sept. 3, 2014) – In celebration of its new store opening at 10th and Gilman on Nov. 4, Whole Foods Market is making a commitment to helping raise healthy kids in Berkeley with fundraising efforts to support Berkeley Unified School District’s Cooking and Gardening Program (CGP).
From Sept. 4-17, the company will donate $1 to CGP for every new “Like” of the Whole Foods Market Gilman Facebook page.* Additionally, Whole Foods Market on Telegraph Ave. will host a 5% Community Support Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17, where five percent of the total store sales will benefit the program.
Since the 1980s the Gardening & Cooking Program has engaged students in hands-on instruction in campus gardens and kitchen classrooms.
“Through community relationships, our organization has been able to help fill funding gaps after losing our $1.9 million federally-funded grant in 2013. We see ourselves as not only a school district program, but as active participants in the community and look to collaborate with organizations in the community such as Whole Foods Market,” said Jezra Thompson, program supervisor for the Gardening & Cooking Program. “Partnering with organizations with aligned missions help create positive impact for our students and for our greater community.”
“This is an ongoing effort for Whole Foods Market in Berkeley; last year our store co-hosted a gala for the Cooking & Gardening Program and we realize it’s important to continue raising dollars and awareness,” said Lizzie Brimhall, Marketing & Community Outreach Team Leader for Whole Foods Market on Telegraph Avenue. “We are genuinely committed to promoting the wellness of children in our community, and with the new store on Gilman we can compound our impact.”
One of Whole Foods Market’s core values is promoting the health of its stakeholders – including kids and families – through healthy eating education. The company also established the Whole Kids Foundation®, which is devoted to improving children’s nutrition and wellness with the goal of ending the childhood obesity epidemic. The foundation implements school garden grants, salad bars in schools, and online educational programs. For more information, visit wholekidsfoundation.org.
*up to $1,000
