LOS ANGELES (Sept. 17, 2012) — Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Region raised $20,597 to fund grants that put salad bars in schools — the result of “Eat your Greens to Give Some Green” donation day when Whole Foods Market committed a $1 donation for every pound of food sold on Sept. 9 from its salad and hot food bars.
The effort from Sept. 9 will help fund grant requests from schools in Southern California, Arizona, Las Vegas and Hawaii. Currently, more than 220 schools in these areas have grant applications waiting to be funded. Whole Foods Market is a founding member of the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, which aims to provide 6,000 school salad bars across the nation by 2013.
“We are so appreciative to our loyal shoppers for making this effort a success,” said Patrick Bradley, regional president, Whole Foods Market, Southern Pacific Region. “Our customers are so passionate about nutrition and we are thrilled to work together toward this important initiative to bring healthy choices to the school lunch line.”
‘Eat your Greens to Give Some Green’ day complemented the Whole Kids Foundation’s annual fundraiser to support its salad bars, school gardens and teacher education programs during the first two weeks of September. Shoppers can make additional donations at checkout to benefit the Foundation on online at www.wholekidsfoundation.org. To learn more about the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative and how local schools can apply for a salad bar grant visit www.saladbars2school.org.
About Whole Kids Foundation
The Whole Kids Foundation, a Whole Foods Market foundation, is based in Austin, Texas, and operates as an independent, nonprofit organization. Its mission is to improve children's nutrition and wellness with the goal of ending the childhood obesity epidemic. Through partnerships with innovative organizations, schools and educators the foundation works to provide children access to healthier choices and aims to help children reach their full potential through the strength of a healthy body. To learn more about the Whole Kids Foundation and its salad bar and garden grant programs, visit www.wholekidsfoundation.org.