Garden of Life Sponsors Whole Planet Foundation® Campaign to Alleviate Poverty and Empower Women Globally

Shoppers enter essay contest for chance to meet loan recipients in India

News provided by

Mar 07, 2012, 09:00 ET

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Garden of Life, LLC (www.gardenoflife.com) announced it is teaming up with Whole Planet Foundation (WPF) as a sponsor of its 2012 Prosperity Campaign at Whole Foods Market^® (WFM). Garden of Life President Brian Ray confirmed the company signed on as the only supplement company partnering with WPF's Supplier Alliance for Microcredit campaign, which has a goal of raising $4.1 million to fund poverty alleviation projects across the globe and in the United States.

"We're thrilled to be involved with this campaign and to support WPF in this endeavor," said Ray. "Garden of Life continually strives to empower extraordinary health, and this campaign will empower women and strengthen families around the world."

Ray added that Garden of Life's partnership promotion will include visibility at WFM stores with shelf signage, banners and posters as well as mentions on web sites, blogs and promotions on social media.

The WPF campaign helps provide microcredit loans to poor women, enabling them to create or expand a home-based business. With no collateral, credit history or a contract required, microloans offer many low-income women their first chance to gain financial independence, launch their own businesses and start a new life. Prosperity from their food carts, door-to-door cosmetic sales, at-home bakeries and flower shops are helping women provide healthier meals, better housing and a solid education for themselves and their children. Watch this video to learn how: bit.ly/wpfga.

"Microcredit is proof that it doesn't take millions of dollars to make a real, lasting difference in someone's life," said Philip Sansone, president and executive director of Whole Planet Foundation. "A loan as small as $300 can empower a poor entrepreneur to lift herself and her family out of poverty for good."

The 2012 Prosperity Campaign runs through March 31 with multiple ways for shoppers to get involved. Whole Foods Market shoppers are encouraged to submit a 25 – 350 word essay on Facebook® about how their small actions are making a big impact in the world for a chance to win a trip for two to India from Intrepid Travel®. On this seven-day adventure, contest winners will experience the power of microcredit firsthand as they meet with loan recipients and take in India's vibrant sights, sounds and flavors. For details and to enter, visit facebook.com/wholeplanetfoundation and select the "Whole Planet Foundation: Small Change for Big Change" tab. The deadline to enter is March 18. Winners will be announced on April 2.

Throughout the month of March, shoppers can also participate in hundreds of fundraising opportunities at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide, ranging from wine tastings, fashion shows and silent auctions to charity races and microbrewery events or by donating "small change for big change" at store checkouts and online at wholeplanetfoundation.org.

To date, Whole Planet Foundation has committed more than $26.5 million and disbursed more than $15.5 million through microfinance partners in 50 countries, positively impacting more than a million people worldwide.

About Garden of Life

Garden of Life, LLC, is a brand of Atrium Innovations Inc. (TSX: ATB), a globally recognized leader in the innovation, formulation, production and commercialization of science-based and professionally endorsed dietary supplements for the health and nutrition industry. Additional information about Atrium is available on its website at www.atrium-innovations.com.

About Whole Planet Foundation^®

Founded in 2005, Whole Planet Foundation is a Whole Foods Market foundation that funds poverty alleviation worldwide where the company sources products. The nonprofit's mission is to empower the poor living in developing-world communities with microcredit and the chance to create or expand a home-based business and lift themselves and their families out of poverty. As of December 2011, Whole Planet Foundation is funding micro lending programs through microfinance institution partners in 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the U.S.

Media Relations

Rhonda Price
Director of Media and Public Relations
Tel.: (561) 371-9407
[email protected]

SOURCE Garden of Life