NEW YORK (Dec. 31, 2015) Whole Foods Market, America’s Healthiest Grocery Store, will host a 5 percent Community Giving Day to benefit environmental organization GrowNYC. On Tuesday, Jan.5, 5 percent of sales from all nine Whole Foods Market New York City locations will be donated to support GrowNYC’s Project Farmhouse—a new education center focused on sustainability, which will open to the general public in summer 2016.
GrowNYC staff and volunteers will be at each Whole Foods Market location from 11a.m. to 3 p.m., educating the public about their work to provide all New Yorkers with a suite of tools and services they can use to improve quality of life, the environment and Project Farmhouse.
Project Farmhouse will be an international center for learning and exploration, opening in 2016. Imagine a central location for environmentally themed film festivals, panel discussions, cooking classes, conferences and more. With the project, GrowNYC will have a permanent, public home where it can serve all New Yorkers. Project Farmhouse will create community for all ages around a range of free and affordable workshops, exhibits, hands-on youth education and special events. Located in Union Square, near the Hyatt Hotel, Project Farmhouse will be a place to explore environmental issues through the lens of food, horticulture, arts, recycling, cooking, and more.
“At Whole Foods Market, we proudly share in GrowNYC’s belief that the entire New York City community will benefit greatly from Project Farmhouse – a place where everyone can come and learn about healthy eating, local food sourcing, renewable energy, composting and beyond,” said Christina Minardi, president of Whole Foods Market’s Northeast Region. “GrowNYC is a vital resource to the city, through the operation of their Greenmarkets, community projects and sustainability advocacy. We’re proud to be a supporter and partner of this fantastic organization.”
GrowNYC is more than halfway to its fundraising goal of $750,000; the amount needed to build out the space and cover the first year of programming. Whole Foods Market’s citywide 5 percent community giving days, which are hosted at all nine New York City locations, typically raise more than $80,000 for their beneficiaries.
“Our staff is out every day working alongside residents – organizing 53 Greenmarkets, including our iconic Union Square Greenmarket, building community and school gardens, helping all New Yorkers recycle more including through compost collections at Greenmarkets and hands-on education programs for all ages,” said GrowNYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen. “Project Farmhouse is our dream. Whole Foods Market is helping us open the doors to provide more free tools, services, and education that even more residents can take advantage of to improve their lives and others!”
Project Farmhouse is supported by the following generous donors: Victoria Contino, Robert J. Kafin, Liz Neumark, Karen E. Meara, TD Bank, Whole Foods Market, Pratt Industries, JetBlue, New York Community Trust (Himelberg Fund, Colin Gardner Fund), Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, New York City Council Member Rosie Mendez, Interbrand, Eugene Schneur, Charles Ramat, The Durst Organization, The Caliban Foundation, The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, Breville USA, Joann Makovitzky, One Five Hospitality, Bridgewood Fieldwater Foundation and Gotham Bar and Grill, Band Foundation.
Visit projectfarmhouse.org to learn more.
For more information about Whole Foods Market, please visit www.wfm.com, or visit them on Facebook or Instagram/Twitter
GrowNYC is the sustainability resource for New Yorkers: providing free tools and services anyone can use in order to improve our city and environment. More gardens, greenmarkets, more recycling, and education for all. Learn more at www.grownyc.org
Whole Foods Market Locations:
Bowery – 95 East Houston St
Chelsea – 250 7th avenue
Columbus Circle – 10 Columbus Circle –Time Warner Center: Lower Level
Midtown East – 226 East 57th Street
Union Square – 4 Union Square South
Upper East Side – 1551 3rd Ave
Upper West Side – 808 Columbus Avenue
Third and 3rd (Brooklyn) – 214 3rd Street
Tribeca – 270 Greenwich Street
