Empowering Individuals in the Global Community Through Entrepreneurship
The Microloan a Month Fund enables ongoing monthly donations in the amount of Whole Planet Foundation’s average loan size, currently $166. 2011 founding member Justin’s paved the way for this program, with new members Teatulia, Mamma Chia, Homemade Harvey, Hail Merry, Green Shoots Distribution, GreenShield Organic, SweetLeaf and Better Life.
Program Overview: Whole Planet Foundation 2013 Microloan a Month Fund
To learn more and to get involved, please contact WPF’s Marketing and Outreach Specialist, Lauren Evans at lauren.evans@wholefoods.com.
Better Life
While cleaning up Ben's muddy paw prints on the glass door and Rachel's 'oops' on the floor, Tim and Nancy, and Kevin and Tiffany realized their houses were actually worse off after cleaning than before they even started. Toxic residue from conventional cleaning products coated every surface in the house. Frustration lead to inspiration. Determined to create a better, safer, and more effective way to clean, BETTER LIFE was born. Tim and Kevin believe in doing, not just talking. Years of experience, lots of sweat (and really clean toilets) have lead to one of the safest, most powerful and genuinely green household cleaning products on the planet. Better Life is excited to partner with Whole Planet Foundation by creating one microloan per month that will give six people an opportunity for a BETTER LIFE!
Green Shoots Distribution
Green Shoots Distribution provides Direct Store Delivery (DSD) service for Whole Foods Market stores in Northern and Southern California and will have coverage of the top 10 natural markets in the country by the end of 2011. Green Shoots Distribution’s team hand-selects limited brands with which to partner, looking for independent brands providing unique offerings in their categories – brands like High Country Kombucha, Columbia Gorge Organic, EVOL and Pitaya. While looking for ways to deepen partnership with Whole Foods Market, Green Shoots discovered Whole Planet Foundation’s global poverty alleviation mission and wanted to get involved by contributing the equivalent of one microloan a month.
GreenShield Organic
GreenShield Organic produces the only line of Laundry Detergents, Dish Detergents, Fabric Softeners and hard surface Cleaners that is Certified Organic by the USDA. We have chosen to create and deliver a terrific collection of products that are Organically produced, because Organic production demands the highest standards....and we require our products meet those standards. Our Mission is to provide Families and Future Generations with a sanitary living environment and clean indoor air quality, by offering products that are made with the utmost concern and consideration for People, Pets and our precious Planet! GreenShield Organic is honored to be associated with Whole Planet Foundation and the dignified opportunities the Microloan a Month Fund allows poor, but budding entrepreneurs the chance to achieve and succeed their way out of poverty.
Hail Merry
Hail Merry is Whole Planet Foundation's newest member of the Microloan a Month Fund. Hail Merry is a raw, vegan, gluten-free snack food company born out of the yoga culture. It is a category-redefining brand by way of taste, healthful benefits and philosophy. The raw plant-based oils offer an unparalleled taste experience and may assist in healing the body.
Homehade harvey
Theresa and Matt Kiene believe that no one should have to go without a daily serving of whole fruits. With that simple belief in mind, they developed Homemade harvey® — the affordable organic, chilled and on-the-go crushed whole food fruit snack delivered in a squeezable pouch. Today, Homemade harvey® is available in nearly every Whole Foods Market in California, Colorado and Texas with additional stores adding this fun, convenient, and healthy to consume line of organic goodness every day. Homemade harvey® began as a company created by a woman out of her home and appreciates the opportunity to partner with the Whole Planet Foundation, providing microcredit loans to poor women in developing countries so that they can also create and expand their home-based businesses.
Justin’s
Justin Gold founded Justin’s in Boulder, Colorado in 2004. Starting with a good idea, great ambition, a simple food processor and the highest quality ingredients available, Justin made his very first batches of his gourmet nut butters in his home kitchen. In 2007, Gold was the very first Whole Foods Local Loan recipient in the Rocky Mountain region. Because of this loan and the support of Whole Foods Market, Justin’s was able to expand its business. To show its appreciation to Whole Foods Market and help people and businesses around the world, Justin’s became the founding member of the Microloan a Month Program. Justin is an entrepreneur inspiring other entrepreneurs through Whole Planet Foundation.
“Our Whole Foods Market loan was HUGE for our company," said Justin Gold, CEO of Justin's. "In the spirit of entrepreneurship and paying it forward, we are proud to work with Whole Planet Foundation to generate that same impact on the lives and communities of the entrepreneurs around the world.”
Mamma Chia
I don’t know if you all consume chia as part of your diet, but we do and definitely enjoy its benefits (all the Omegas, fiber, vitality, energy). In the summer of 2009, fueled by her passion for chia and her commitment to be of service to humanity and the planet, Janie Hoffman founded Mamma Chia – the first organic, chia-based food and beverage company. Mamma Chia donates 1% of gross sales to support farmers, community groups and organizations that are building healthy, local food systems. The company is building cooperative relationships with chia growers and is committed to supporting their organic certification, social justice programs and overall community growth.
SweetLeaf
Inspired by his first taste of stevia from Paraguay, James May created SweetLeaf Stevia with the vision of bringing this naturally sweet leaf to the United States and supporting local farmers cultivate a healthy, safe crop. Committed to a sustainable planet and pure natural goodness, Jim developed a unique and proprietary extraction process using only cool, purified water to extract the naturally sweet taste. SweetLeaf is the only pure stevia brand cultivated and processed without chemicals, solvents or additives for the purest, sweetest taste. SweetLeaf is excited to support the Microloan a Month Fund and further help alleviate poverty by supporting disadvantaged entrepreneurs achieve economic success.
Teatulia
Teatulia Organic Teas are single-garden direct sustainable teas that come directly from the first USDA-Certified Organic garden in Bangladesh. The Teatulia approach to farming is truly revolutionary. In their garden, Teatulia has implemented “natural farming” practices that result in a “closed loop” eco and social system. No pesticides, machinery or unnatural irrigation are used in the cultivation. The Teatulia Cooperative creates sustainable prosperity for Bangladeshi women, men and children through education, entrepreneurship, health and cattle-lending programs. The result is unsurpassed purity, accountability and freshness. Teatulia is proud to be part of the Microloan a Month Program, and they hope to inspire other businesses to give back and support disadvantaged entrepreneurs as they achieve their way to success. Follow Teatulia on Facebook to learn more!
