AUSTIN, Texas (Feb. 25, 2016) – Nineteen companies are joining forces to help more than 35,000 people worldwide lift themselves out of poverty through microcredit thanks to their generous donation to Whole Planet Foundation. As members of Whole Planet Foundation’s $100,000 Fund and Supplier Alliance for Microcredit this year, each company has pledged $100,000 or $50,000, respectively, to support the foundation’s poverty alleviation programs across Africa, Asia, Latin America, as well as in the U.S., U.K. and Canada where Whole Foods Market operates stores.
“The world has been making great strides in reducing poverty,” said Philip Sansone, president and executive director of Whole Planet Foundation. “Fifteen percent of the global population still lives on less than $2.00 a day, however. For a woman living in poverty, a $200 microloan can spark generational change for her family as she generates even small amounts of income from a new or expanded microbusiness. We are grateful to partner with so many outstanding companies to continue to reduce global suffering.”
Whole Planet Foundation was established by Whole Foods Market® as a way to give back to the global communities where the natural and organic retailer sources products. The foundation provides grants to microfinance partners worldwide, and the partners then disburse those funds in the form of small loans to individuals with the greatest need in the local community. With no collateral, credit history or contracts required, and an average repayment rate of 97 percent, the model is both accessible and highly successful.
To date, Whole Planet Foundation has authorized $69 million and funded $52 million in microfinance programs in 70 countries, positively impacting more than 7 million people worldwide.
Whole Planet Foundation’s 2016 $100,000 ™ Fund partners include: Alaffia, Allegro Coffee Company, Frontier Co-op, Living on One, Naked Juice, and Papyrus-Recycled Greetings, who founded this level in 2014.
Whole Planet Foundation’s $50,000 Supplier Alliance for Microcredit® include: Chavez for Charity, Garden of Life, Hain Celestial, IZZE, Mamma Chia, Nubian Heritage, ORGANIC INDIA, Reserveage Nutrition, Rishi Tea, Sambazon, Seventh Generation, Traditional Medicinals, and truRoots.
For more information about Whole Planet Foundation and its $100,000 Fund and Supplier Alliance for Microcredit partners, visit wholeplanetfoundation.org.
