Whole Story

On October 25, Whole Planet Foundation® and nine Whole Foods Market® suppliers are celebrating Poverty is Unnecessary Day. How are they celebrating? Kettle Brand, PROBAR, Café Spice Global Cuisine, Genji Sushi, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, LÄRABAR, BlueAvocado, Nature’s Path and Odwalla, have each committed $25,000 this year to fund Whole Planet Foundation’s microlending efforts around the world. Each $25,000 donation is enough to provide 120 impoverished families with loans and chance to change their own lives. Now that’s something to celebrate!

Seven years ago, on October 25, 2005, Whole Foods Market launched Whole Planet Foundation with a mission to alleviate global poverty by funding microcredit to the very poor living in communities around the world where we source products. On this day every year, Whole Planet Foundation celebrates its inception with Poverty is Unnecessary Day and recognize the support from the brands that donate annually to support the foundation’s mission.

To date, Whole Planet Foundation has disbursed more than $20 million and committed more than $32 million to microlending projects in 53 countries around the world, supporting more than 1.3 million people with a chance for a better life.

Do you want to join in the celebration? Check your local store’s calendar for their Poverty is Unnecessary Day event. You can also stop by and pick up an item, or two or more, from our generous supplier donors, to show your support for their efforts.

If you want to keep up with Whole Planet Foundation’s work, connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Do you love our nine supplier donors as much as we do? Tell us about one of their products that’s a personal favorite.