In the Media

  • Applegate Joins Whole Kids Foundation to Build Awareness about Salad Bar Nation and Real Food

    April 25, 2013 — Applegate, the leading producer of natural and organic meat, announced that it will join Salad Bar Nation, a public awareness and fundraising campaign led by Whole Kids Foundation, a Whole Foods Market® foundation.

    The campaign challenges Americans to eat a salad every day and pledges to raise funds to make the same possible for kids at school by providing salad bar grants. Applegate's generous contribution of $25,000 will help fund the necessary salad bar equipment at schools to offer children healthier food options in the lunchroom.

    To help increase visibility for the work of the Foundation, Applegate will include Whole Kids Foundation's logo on a selection of their Red Label sliced lunch meats sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market including roasted turkey breast, smoked turkey breast and slow cooked ham. Applegate's healthy salad recipes will be featured at the www.saladbarnation.org website throughout the year.

    "Applegate is deeply committed to the idea of helping children understand what real food is and where it comes from," said Stephen McDonnell, Applegate CEO and founder. Whole Kids Foundation brings this idea to life through salad bars in schools, garden grants and nutrition education for teachers.

    More than 31.6 million children receive lunch at school each day through the National School Lunch program, and over the course of a K-12 education, one child consumes over 2,000 lunches. High school students who use a salad bar at school are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables five or more times each day according to the findings from a 2010 national survey from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A recent Nielsen study reports that fruit and vegetable consumption by kids over the past year increased more than 5 percent.

    "We value Applegate's generous support to improve the nutrition of children and families," said Nona Evans, president and executive director of Whole Kids Foundation. "Salad bars are an extraordinarily effective way to present healthy food options – including quality protein – that ensure our kids have the energy and focus they need. It's so important for families to have a trusted source for high quality meat proteins, like Applegate, to include in their daily salads."

    "We realize that in order to instill lifelong healthy eating habits in children we must address access to healthy food at home, in school and in the community," said McDonnell, adding that through their various programs, Whole Kids Foundation has given more than 1 million children access to healthy food choices.

  • EO® introduces Everyone Foaming Soap for Kids and donates to Whole Kids Foundation™

    Mill Valley, CA (April 1, 2013) — EO® Products will give 5% of sales of its Everyone Foaming Soap for Kids sold at Whole Foods Market stores in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas from March 26 to April 30 to support the work of Whole Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving nutrition for children.

    Everyone Foaming Soap for Kids is a new 3-in-1 product of pure natural bubbles to gently clean kids from head-to-toe. As with all EO® Products, these soaps are made of pure essential oils and plant-based ingredients that naturally nurture and soothe the skin and comes in three fragrances especially designed for kids – lavender lullaby, orange squeeze and tropical coconut. Whole Foods Market will stock these three all-in-one shampoo, shower and bubble bath soaps in both the 32 once refill and 4 once varieties which retail for $9.99 and $3.99 respectively.

    "The decisions that parents make regarding the products to clean and put on their children's skin is equally important as the choices parents make to the healthy, whole foods that nourish their kids," stated Brad Black, founder and owner of EO® Products. "EO® is excited to donate a percentage of the sale of Everyone Foaming Soap for Kids to support Whole Kids Foundation programs such as gardens on school campuses and salad bars in school cafeterias."

    "We are delighted to have the support of EO® especially since we share a common high quality standard for the overall health and wellness for kids," stated Nona Evans.

  • Tamaques School Awarded Grant from Whole Kids Foundation

    Westfield, New Jersey (Dec. 18, 2012) - Tamaques Elementary School in Westfield has received a $2000 grant from the Whole Kids Foundation and FoodCorps in support of the school's outdoor educational garden in which fresh fruits and vegetables are grown by the students.

  • School Plants Garden

    OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (Sept. 22, 2012) - Volunteers and students are planting a new school garden at Stanley Hupfeld Academy.

  • Raising the (salad) bar and rooting for school gardens

    AUSTIN, Texas (July 31, 2012) PRNewswire via COMTEX - Whole Kids Foundation turns 1--'lettuce' celebrate one year, more than 1,000 schools and 1 million kids sowing healthy change

  • School Garden Program Expands

    CHARLOTTESVILLE, North Carolina (July 31, 2012) - More kids in Charlottesville will learn how to grow fruits and vegetables this year thanks to the City Schoolyard Garden.

  • Whole Foods Market Helps Plant School Gardens

    TOWN AND COUNTRY, Missouri (July 31, 2012) - Whole Kids Foundation funded 886 school garden grants last year—one of them in Town and Country.

  • Budding Gardeners at Timber Trace Elementary Get a Little Green From Whole Kids Foundation

    July 15, 2012 - Broward Palm Beach

  • Whole Foods Plants Roots in Valley

    July 15, 2012 - Aspen Daily News Staff Report

  • Whole Kids Foundation seeds change through garden grants

    July 11, 2012 - C&G Newspapers

  • Whole Kids Foundation Plant Seeds of Change in Hawai'i Schools

    July 3, 2012 — Easy Oahu News, Submitted by Bennet Group

  • Cool App Alert: Awesome Eats

    Austin-made app lets kids play with their food

    BY MELANIE HAUPT, 10:50AM, WED. JUN. 27

  • Grant helps garden grow at St. Thomas the Apostle School

    WEST HARTFORD, CT (June 13, 2012) - St. Thomas the Apostle School received a $2,000.00 grant from the Whole Kids Foundation and Foodcorps to expand a garden program.

  • Whole Kids Foundation™ sprouts Awesome Eats™ mobile app

    AUSTIN, Texas (April 10, 2012) — Free mobile game for children teaches healthy
    eating tips

    The Whole Kids Foundation, a charitable organization supporting schools and inspiring families to improve children's nutrition and wellness, has created and launched Awesome Eats, its first-ever free mobile app designed to teach children that healthy eating can be fun.

    Available as a free iPhone and iPad download*, Awesome Eats invites kids of all ages to stock, pack and plate a rainbow of fresh-from-the-garden foods. More than 500,000 people from 195 countries have already played—stacking and sorting fruits, vegetables, and whole grains across different scenarios to win stars and score points. Players will be challenged by obstacles and fun surprises such as thieving birds, which can be shooed away with a quick "tap," and fast-paced interactive sorting techniques. Between each of the 32 challenging levels, kids get loads of healthy eating tips and information.

    "The new Awesome Eats app is one of many tools Whole Kids Foundation is creating to engage children about healthy eating in an entertaining way," says Nona Evans, the Foundation's executive director. "We hope this interactive game encourages kids to learn about new fruits and vegetables and even challenge their siblings and parents to learn a few of the fun nutrition facts."

    The Whole Kids Foundation, a Whole Foods Market® foundation, is based in Austin, Texas, and operates as an independent, nonprofit organization. By empowering schools and inspiring families, the Foundation aims to help children reach optimal health through the strength of a healthy body fueled by nutritious food choices.

    * The new game is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation), and iPad, and requires iOS 3.1 or later.

  • Shoppers help harvest $2 million for school gardens

    AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 24, 2011) — Whole Kids School Garden Grant Program accepting applications through Dec. 31

    In just six weeks, Whole Foods Market shoppers donated more than $2 million in stores and online to support the School Garden Grant Program, the first major initiative of the Whole Kids Foundation. In partnership with FoodCorps, the Foundation will fund $2,000 grants for schools in the U.S. and Canada to support the launch or expansion of school gardens.

    Created to help schools grow students' relationships with food through gardening, the School Garden Grant Program stems from the Foundation's mission to support nutrition education in schools. With the $2 million raised by shoppers and the $235,000 received from Whole Foods Market's Living Social offer, which donated $.50 to the nonprofit per deal purchased, the Foundation will fund more than 1,000 school gardens.

    "The support we have received from over a million shoppers is humbling and deeply appreciated. We've already received 300 applications from schools and garden-related nonprofits who are interested in implementing or expanding school gardens," said Nona Evans, executive director of the Whole Kids Foundation. "Gardens are such a powerful and effective tool for kids to engage in a variety of conversations about food. We encourage parents and teachers to consider the many lessons that can be taught by gardening with their children."

    In addition to a $2,000 grant, each grant recipient will receive a copy of "How to Grow a School Garden" by Arden Bucklin-Sporer and Rachel Pringle, a digital garden kit, discounts for gardening supplies and ongoing opportunities for mentoring and support from FoodCorps, which will help schools build and sustain their gardens to ensure long-term success.

    "FoodCorps is thrilled to partner with Whole Kids Foundation to provide more children with an opportunity to discover the joys of growing food, and in-turn establish lifelong healthy eating habits," said Debra Eschmeyer, FoodCorps Co-Founder and Program Director. "Now we need schools and nonprofits to apply and take advantage of this great opportunity."

    All schools, districts and garden-related nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply through the online grant process, which is being administered by the Whole Kids Foundation and FoodCorps. Grant applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, 2011, and recipients will be notified in February 2012. To apply, or to review the full grant criteria, visit http://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/gardengrants.php.

  • Menu Makeover

    AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 30, 2011) — DC Public Schools are revamping their school menus, which now include salad bars, edible gardens and high nutritional standards (NBC Washington).

  • Count 'Em: 33 School Salad Bars Debut

    New Haven, Conn. by Allan Appel, New Haven Independent (Sept. 28, 2011) — A perspective on our online deal with Living Social... by Walter Robb

  • 33 salad bars added to New Haven schools​

    Sept. 27, 2011 — New Haven, Conn. by Abbe Smith, New Haven Register Staff

  • Salad Bars move onto the lunch menu

    New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) by Jocelyn Maminta (Sept. 27, 2011)

  • New Haven schools give lunches a healthy makeover

    New Haven, CT (WFSB) by CBS Channel 3 WFSB Staff (Sept. 27, 2011)

  • Living Social Success for Whole Kids Foundation

    AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 21, 2011) — A perspective on our online deal with Living Social... by Walter Robb

    This past week, our $10 for a $20 gift card offer on Living Social received tremendous publicity for being the first-ever national grocery deal and for selling out in record time. Indeed, the offer sold at an average rate of 30 sales per second and reached as high as 80 sales per second at its peak — on the way to selling out one million coupons in about 10 hours. For a veteran apron-wearing, bricks-and-mortar retailer like me, this sale was eye-popping testimony to the speed and power of the internet and digital world. And while I am admittedly biased, I think it also showed the appeal of the Whole Foods Market brand and experience.

    The offer was also significant for a lesser known but no less important reason. Through the partnership with Living Social, we were able to link the deal directly to the site of our new Whole Kids Foundation, the nonprofit we announced this past July, with the big goal of improving children's nutrition and reversing the trend in childhood obesity. For each gift card purchased, Whole Foods Market donated 50 cents to the foundation. We have been talking about the value of natural and organic foods in the marketplace for more than 30 years, and with our customers' help have put close to 1,000 salad bars in schools over the past two years. Setting up this new foundation makes formal both our passion and our commitment as a company to make a lasting difference in the health of children. Today, nearly two thirds of kids in the U.S. are overweight, and one third is obese. Put that together with less than 20 percent of the 120,000 schools in America serving fresh vegetables as part of school meals and you can see the true nature of the upstream challenge we have with kids' health in this country.

    Through a tab on its Facebook page, the Whole Kids Foundation let customers "vote" on the percentage of donations that would go to each of its three initiatives: salad bars, school gardens, or nutrition and cooking education for teachers. With the success of the offer, our customers guaranteed that Whole Foods Market will give $500,000 dollars to those efforts.

    With this deal, we created almost 1,000 new "friends" and 300 new followers on Twitter for the Whole Kids Foundation, and our web traffic is up nicely. This only reinforces for me that many other folks out there agree this is the time to support schools and inspire families to improve children's nutrition and wellness.

    So certainly, this deal was about creating customer excitement and driving traffic. But it was also about making people happy — with a nice surprise at the end. We want to demonstrate that business can serve the broader needs of society while it also serves its customers. Through the potential of collaboration with our nonprofit partners, the power of inclusion with our customers to help guide our decisions, and the possibility of combining the two online through this deal, last Tuesday was a new day for the Whole Kids Foundation and the children it serves.

  • Tips to get your kids to eat healthier

    (Sept. 20, 2011) — We all want our kids to eat healthier, but changing their eating habits is harder than you might think. So Whole Foods is ready to help... (weareaustin.com).

  • First Be Well Walk to take place in Austin on October 2nd

    AUSTIN, Texas (Aug. 17, 2011) — Austin non‐profits, families will join to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. Up to $200,000 will be raised for local area non‐profits through the event.

    The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation will host its inaugural Be Well Walk designed to encourage Austin's families to make informed and simple changes to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. The walk is scheduled for Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 4 p.m. at Longhorn Shores on Lady Bird Lake, and all proceeds will benefit local non‐profits working to make Austin a healthier community.

    This year, 15 partner organizations were chosen who aligned with the Foundation's mission of increasing access to nutrition and physical activity and promoting healthy behaviors. Participating organizations include: ACTIVELife, Austin Sunshine Camps, Born to Run, Camp Fire USA Balcones Council, Explore Austin, Lone Star Circle of Care, Marathon Kids, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living/CATCH, People's Community Clinic, Sustainable Food Center, Texas Center for Treatment and Prevention of Childhood Obesity, Trail Foundation, Westcave Preserve, Whole Kids Foundation and YMCA of Austin.

    Each group is responsible for raising $5,000, registering 100 walkers for the event and having 100 walkers cross the finish line. Upon meeting these goals, each organization will receive a matching $5,000 donation from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Individual walkers from across Central Texas are also encouraged to participate in the event. Up to 1,000 participants can register via www.bewellwalk.org. The registration fee is $25 and can be directed to one of the 15 participating organizations. This $25 registration fee will be matched by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and 100 percent of all registration fees go towards the partner organizations. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is underwriting all costs associated with the Be Well Walk.

    The event is expected to generate up to $200,000 ($100,000 in fundraising and registration fees and $100,000 match from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation) for local event partners for their health and wellness programming.

    "The Be Well Walk is a unique opportunity to exercise and help local organizations working to foster a fit generation of young people in every community in Austin" said Susan Dell, co‐founder and chairman on the board for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. "Just by joining us on the second of October, anyone in the community can help generate additional funding for our Austin area partners and further their mission to make Austin a healthier place to live."

    The Be Well Walk is the latest initiative in the Foundation's continued effort to fight to end childhood obesity. In the spirit of helping moms give their children the gift of wellness, Susan Dell wrote Be Well: Messages from Moms on Living Healthier Lives. The book is a compilation of the stories of urban moms throughout the country who are working to establish life–long, healthy habits in their children. The Be Well movement has reached moms in 50 states.

    For more information and to register for Be Well Walk: Austin 2011, applicants can visit www.BeWellWalk.org.

    About the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
    The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children living in urban poverty around the world. With offices in Austin, TX and New Delhi, India, and Cape Town, South Africa, the Dell family foundation funds programs that foster high‐quality public education and childhood health, and improve the economic stability of families living in poverty. The foundation has committed more than $700 million to global children's issues and community initiatives to date. Follow the event on Twitter and on Facebook.

    For further information, please contact:
    Megan Matthews
    512‐600‐5500
    megan.matthews@msdf.org

  • Whole Kids Foundation™ taking root with school garden
    grant program

    AUSTIN, Texas (Aug. 17, 2011) — Whole Foods Market® to hold donation drive to fund gardening opportunities for children

    Whole Kids Foundation in partnership with FoodCorps is now accepting online grant applications for its first major initiative, the School Garden Grant Program, which will be funded by a six-week, in-store donation drive at all Whole Foods Market stores, and online at wholekidsfoundation.org, from Aug. 17 to Sept. 30.

    Created to help schools grow students' relationships with food through gardening, the new program stems from the nonprofit's mission of supporting schools' efforts to improve children's nutrition. Through the Whole Kids School Garden Grant Program, the Foundation and partner FoodCorps will offer $2,000 grants, along with curriculum, resources and mentorship, to 1,000 schools. FoodCorps' expertise in gardening, and its ongoing support will help schools build and sustain their gardens to ensure long-term success. All schools and garden-related nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants to support the launch or expansion of school gardens.

    "The School Garden Grant Program makes nutritious foods and healthy-eating education relevant and exciting for kids, and it extends learning outside the classroom," said Walter Robb, Whole Foods Market co-CEO and Whole Kids Foundation board chairman. "Gardens are such a magical place. As kids see plants growing and coming to life and they realize that food doesn't come out of a box or off a truck, but that it comes out of the ground from a seed, it makes relationship between food and nourishment real."

    According to research done at the UC Davis Center for Nutrition in Schools, access to a school garden:

    • Improves knowledge of nutrition, food preferences, and consumption of fruits and vegetables
    • Allows for the integration of multiple subject areas
    • Enhances overall academic achievement
    • Provides children with an understanding of agriculture and the environment
    • Improves life skills, self-esteem, social skills and behavior

    From now through September, shoppers can donate to the project at store checkouts or online through wholekidsfoundation.org. In addition to $2,000, each grant recipient will receive a copy of "How to Grow a School Garden" by Arden Bucklin-Sporer and Rachel Pringle, and a digital garden kit that includes an online resource center, discounts for gardening supplies from various partners, and ongoing opportunities for mentoring and support from FoodCorps. The Foundation will be accepting grant applications through Dec. 31, 2011, and recipients will be notified in February 2012.

    The garden grants will be awarded to local schools, districts and garden-related nonprofit organizations through an online grant process, which will be administered by the Whole Kids Foundation and FoodCorps. To apply, each school must secure a community partner that will help them sustain a long-term garden. The school must also provide basic background information, including a photo of its garden site, proposed budget and timeline for the project, goals for the garden and an explanation of how students will be engaged.

    "FoodCorps is thrilled to partner with Whole Kids Foundation to provide more children an opportunity to discover the joys of growing food, in turn establishing lifelong healthy-eating habits," said Curt Ellis, Executive Director of FoodCorps.

    Whole Kids Foundation is based in Austin, Texas, and operates as an independent, nonprofit organization. By empowering schools and inspiring families, the Foundation aims to help children reach optimal health through the strength of a healthy body fueled by nutritious food choices.

    For more information on the Foundation, ways parents can engage their schools, and how to apply for a school garden grant, visit: wholekidsfoundation.org.

    # # #

    About Whole Foods Market®
    Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM) is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America's first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" by Health magazine. The company's motto "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company's nearly 60,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 14 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2010, the company had sales of more than $9 billion and currently has more than 300 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

    About FoodCorps
    FoodCorps is a national nonprofit that seeks to reverse childhood obesity by increasing children's knowledge of, engagement with and access to healthy food. The centerpiece of its work is an AmeriCorps public service program that recruits young leaders for a year of service in high-obesity, limited-resource communities of need. Service members build and tend school gardens, conduct hands-on nutrition education and facilitate Farm to School programming that brings high quality, local food into schools.

  • Whole Kids Foundation™ to support childhood health
    and wellness

    AUSTIN, Texas. (July 25, 2011) — Whole Foods Market® establishes new foundation to make significant impact on ending childhood obesity through increased access to healthy foods

    Whole Foods Market is pleased to announce the Whole Kids Foundation, a charitable organization that will provide children with access to healthy food choices through partnerships with schools, educators and organizations.

    By supporting schools and inspiring families, the Foundation aims to help children reach optimal health through the strength of a healthy body fueled by nutritious food choices.

    The Foundation's first major initiative will be the Whole Kids Garden Grant Project, a program that will enable schools to help build children's relationships with food through the power of gardening. All schools and garden-related nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply this fall for grants to support the implementation or expansion of on-campus teaching gardens.

    "We are excited to formalize our commitment to improving childhood nutrition and wellness through our new Foundation," said Walter Robb, Whole Foods Market co-CEO and Whole Kids Foundation board chairman. "By collaborating with schools and parents, we believe we can increase fruit and vegetable consumption both at schools and at home and make a significant contribution in the fight against childhood obesity."

    Whole Foods Market has been an advocate for school lunch reform and has supported healthy eating education for children for many years. Past initiatives and partnerships that will remain areas of focus through the Whole Kids Foundation include:

    • Lunchbox.org: In 2009, Whole Foods Market and shoppers donated more than $700,000 to fund "The Lunchbox.org," an online resource created by Chef Ann Cooper's F3 Foundation, which helps public schools provide more nutritious lunches for kids. Launched in the 2010 school year, thelunchbox.org website offers free, comprehensive resources to help schools replace highly processed foods with fresh, natural, made-from-scratch foods in a realistic, cost-effective manner.
    • Salad Bar Project and Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools: In 2010, shoppers donated more than $1.4 million during a seven-week fundraising campaign to improve school lunches through the Salad Bar Project, which helped fund 570 salad bars in schools across the country. Whole Foods Market joined forces with F3 for a second year to help bring fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins to school lunch programs through an online grant process. To make an even larger impact in lunchrooms across the country, Whole Foods Market also became a founding partner of Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools, whose goal is to provide 6,000 school salad bars across the nation by 2013.
    • School and store partnerships: Many of our stores have established relationships with local schools that range from school gardens and salad bars, to art competitions and food drives, to educational store tours and class visits by our Team Members. The Foundation will also invest in the health of teachers by providing nutrition and cooking education so that they can be the healthiest role models possible.


    In addition to being a recent Salad Bar Project grant recipient, Brent Elementary School in Washington D.C. is an example of a school partnership our local P Street store has grown through Team Member support. The school now serves school lunch menu items that meet the HealthierUS Schools Gold requirements, the new Institute of Medicine dietary standards and also features a healthy salad bar stocked with fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein. "Adding a salad bar at Brent Elementary fit perfectly with the deep commitments the district has made to improve the quality of food we serve," said Paula Reichel, Program Coordinator from D.C. Public School Office of Food & Nutrition Services. "The energy from the kids and parents around the salad bar was contagious."

    The Whole Kids Foundation is based in Austin, Texas, and operates as an independent, nonprofit organization with its own board of directors. For more information on the Foundation and how to apply for a school or community garden grant through the Whole Kids Garden Grant program, visit: wholekidsfoundation.org or e-mail whole.kids@wholefoods.com.

  • New Haven Public Schools are Feeding the Future with Salad Bars from Whole Foods Market®

    NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 2011) — Thirty three schools will have new healthy salad bars in lunchrooms in time for back–to–school

    The New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) were selected to receive 33 healthy salad bar kits through Whole Foods Market's Salad Bar Project, a campaign created to help empower schools to increase their students' lunch[me consump[on of fruits and vegetables.

    Tim Cipriano, Food Service Director for New Haven Public Schools, led the grant applica[on process for the school district and was thrilled when he was no[fied that 33 schools would receive salad bar grants from Whole Foods Market. "With the addi[on of these salad bars, the children in our schools will have more access to fresh vegetables and legumes. Salad bars are a great way to open up the world of fresh, locally grown products to our children. Some of the produce served will come from our own school gardens. The concept of students ea[ng student grown food will have a significant impact on the lives of our children."

    Schools receiving salad bars include:

    • Augusta Lewis Troup School
    • L.W. Beecher Museum School of Arts & Sciences
    • Benjamin Jepson
    • Betsy Ross Arts School
    • Bishop Woods School
    • Brennan
    • Rogers School (2, one for each building)
    • Celentano Museum Academy
    • Clemente Leadership Academy
    • Clinton Avenue School
    • Columbus Family Academy
    • Conte-West Hills School
    • Davis Street Arts & Academics School
    • East Rock School
    • Edgewood School
    • Engineering and Science University Magnet School
    • Fair Haven School
    • High School In the Community
    • Hill Central Music Academy
    • John C. Daniels School of International Communication
    • John S. Martinez School
    • King-Robinson International Baccalaureate School
    • Lincoln Bassef School
    • Metropolitan Business Academy
    • Microsociety School
    • Nathan Hale School
    • New Horizons School
    • Ross Woodward Classical Studies School
    • Sound School
    • Truman School
    • Wexler-Grant School
    • Worthington Hooker School (2, one for each building)

    Of the nearly 20,800 students enrolled in New Haven Public Schools, 80 percent qualify for free or reduced lunches. Last school year, over 5.12 million meals were served to students.

    "Salad bars are an amazing tool to empower children to make healthy food choices," said Nona Evans, Salad Bar Project Coordinator for Whole Foods Market. "According to a 2010 UCLA study, children who have salad bars in school lunchrooms consume significantly more fruits and vegetables than those who do not. We hope many more schools and districts will apply for a salad bar grant through Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools whose goal is 6000 salad bars in schools by 2013."

    The salad bar kits include a five-well Cambro® salad bar complete with utensils, pan inserts, chilling pads and training tools. The NHPS salad bars will feature a variety of locally sourced fresh foods that Cipriano has helped source through Farm to School and other healthy eating initiatives. For more information on New Haven Public Schools visit www.nhps.net/NHSchoolFood and more information on Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools go to http://www.saladbars2schools.org/.

  • More than 500 Schools Awarded Grants for Salad Bars

    AUSTIN, Texas. (Feb. 10, 2011) — Whole Foods Market® helps make fresh, wholesome food accessible to children by giving free salad bars to schools

    Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) today announced that it has awarded grants for more than 500 free salad bars through the Salad Bar Project, a campaign created to help empower schools to increase their students' lunchtime consumption of fruits and vegetables.

    Whole Foods Market shoppers surpassed the goal of $750,000, donating more than $1.4 million to the Salad Bar Project during the grocer's four-week in-store and online fundraising campaign in September. The company partnered with Chef Ann Cooper's nonprofit, F3: Food Family Farming Foundation, to administer the grant application process. The Foundation received over 700 applications and has scheduled shipment of 460 salad bars to date, and is finalizing the review of 90 additional qualifying schools. Visit saladbars2schools.org for a current list of schools that have received salad bars.

    "We were blown away by the generosity of our shoppers. We nearly doubled the number of schools we had originally expected to support," said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market. "With such a robust amount of funds raised, we are thrilled to be able to offer a salad bar to every school that qualified and are proud to support the courageous efforts of schools that want to provide kids in our communities more fresh healthy options in the lunchroom."

    To make an even larger impact in lunchrooms across the country, Whole Foods Market announced it is a founding partner of Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools, whose goal is to provide 6,000 salad bars across the nation by 2013.

    Each day, 31.5 million children depend on the National School Lunch Program for meals. According to a 2009 study by scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just one percent of adolescents ate as many servings of fruit and vegetables as recommended by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

    "The best part about the salad bars is the smiles on the kids' faces when they see the great fresh choices we can now offer," said Jamie Smith, manager of food services for Santa Cruz City Schools. "They have quickly made theme bar days like "taco salad bar" and "make your own veggie pita" some of our most popular days."

    All schools receiving grants from the Salad Bar Project will be sent healthy salad bar kits in the next few weeks. The kits include a five-well Cambro® salad bar complete with utensils, pan inserts, chilling pads and training tools. Salad bar training tools and videos for school nutrition staff will also be available through TheLunchBox.org, which Whole Foods Market shoppers helped to raise funds to build in 2009 so all schools can have access to healthier food tools and tips. For more information about Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools, visit saladbars2schools.org.

  • Whole Foods Market® Shoppers Donate More Than $1.4 Million for Salad Bars in Schools

    AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 13, 2010) — K-12 schools can now submit grant application for free salad bar at saladbarproject.org

    Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM.) is pleased to announce that its shoppers donated more than $1.4 million after a seven-week fundraising campaign to improve school lunches through the Salad Bar Project. As the nation celebrates National School Lunch Week (Oct. 10-16), it is clear that parents and advocates are ready for healthy items to be added to the menu.

    Whole Foods Market joined forces with Chef Ann Cooper's non-profit, Food Family Farming Foundation (F3), to help bring fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins to school lunch programs through an online grant process. The generous donations from Whole Foods Market's customers will fund 570 salad bars for schools across the country.

    "The overwhelming support our shoppers have shown for the Salad Bar Project is heartwarming, just plain amazing," said Walter Robb, co-CEO for Whole Foods Market. "We nearly doubled the original fundraising goal, so it's clear our customers share our passion for supporting more nutritious offerings in school lunchrooms across the country."

    Schools can apply for a grant for a free salad bar kit at www.saladbarproject.org through Nov. 15, 2010. Applicants must participate in the National School Lunch Program, be located within a 50-mile radius of any Whole Foods Market and demonstrate a commitment to sustaining a healthy cafeteria salad bar for two school years. TheLunchBox.org, which provides tangible solutions for making healthier, fresh and "made-from-scratch" food available to schoolchildren across the country, will help support the initiative through online support tools.

    "We believe America has spoken loudly with their generous support. They want healthier food in all schools," said Chef Ann Cooper. "It just makes common sense. Salad bars not only provide fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins but help boost student performance in school while also benefitting their health," said Cooper.

    F3, the granting institution, will collect and approve school applications. Each school will need approval from its district superintendent, school principal and nutrition services director. Grant awards will be based on need, potential for impact, commitment to the program and potential for future viability when the grant period has ended. Grant recipients will be announced on Jan. 15.

  • 'Renegade Lunch Lady' and Whole Foods Market® Invite Schools to Apply for Grants to Fund Salad Bars at www.saladbarproject.com

    BOULDER, Colo. and AUSTIN, Texas. (Sept. 1, 2010) — Whole Foods Market shoppers help fund initiative for healthier school lunches.

    With an ambitious vision to place a healthy salad bar in every public school in America, Chef Ann Cooper's Food, Family, Farming Foundation (F3) and America's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, Whole Foods Market®, announced today that the Great American Salad Bar Project's grant application is now open for schools to apply for a free salad bar kit. The window to apply for the grant at www.saladbarproject.org is Sept. 1 through Nov. 1, 2010. Applicants must participate in the National School Lunch Program and demonstrate a commitment to sustaining a healthy cafeteria salad bar. This project is an initiative of TheLunchBox.org which provides tangible solutions for making healthier, fresh and made-from-scratch food available to schoolchildren across the country.

    F3 is the granting institution and will collect and approve school applications. Schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and are within a 50-mile radius of any Whole Foods Market are eligible to apply. Parents and advocates dedicated to improving school lunches can encourage their local schools to apply for the grant online at www.saladbarproject.org.

    "The No. 1 one thing a school can do to improve its food is to add a healthy salad bar and allow children to make their own healthy choices," said Cooper, "Renegade Lunch Lady", director of nutrition services at the Boulder Valley School District and founder of the F3 Foundation and TheLunchBox.org. "Kids have the right to a wholesome, delicious meal which includes access to fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins, every school day."

    To fund the short-term goal of donating 300 salad bars to public schools in the communities Whole Foods Market serves, its shoppers have already donated $679,093 only three weeks into the campaign. The funds to date equate to 271 salad bars. Shoppers may continue to donate until Sept. 29 at all stores or may donate online at www.saladbarproject.org. Schools selected by F3 for free salad bar kits will be announced by Jan. 15, 2011 and salad bar kits will be shipped to schools within a month.

    "It is so invigorating to see our shoppers are as passionate as we are about making healthier, fresh food available to school children in one of the most tangible ways. We are so appreciative they have embraced this fundraiser and that children in our communities will soon benefit from their generosity," said Marci Frumkin, executive marketing director for Whole Foods Market. "We have already raised 90 percent of our fundraising goal of $750,000 and we invite everyone to help spread the word to school administrators about the simple grant application at saladbarproject.org."

    Each school that is chosen will receive a portable, five-well Cambro® salad bar complete with utensils, pan inserts, chilling pads and training tools. TheLunchBox.org will provide the necessary training tools and ongoing support to help ensure proper management. Each applying school will need to obtain approval from its district superintendent, school principal and nutrition services director and commit to use the salad bar as part of the lunch program for two school years.

    Grant awards will be based on need, potential for impact, commitment to the program and potential for future viability when the grant period has ended.

  • Whole Foods Market® Launches Salad Bar Project to Imrove School Lunch Programs Nationwide in Partnership with Chef Ann Cooper's thelunchbox.org

    AUSTIN, Texas (Aug. 12, 2010) — In-Store and Online Donation Drive Helps Shoppers Fund Salad Bar Kits in Schools Across the Country

    Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI), the leading natural and organic foods supermarket, its shoppers and Chef Ann Cooper, the nation's "Renegade Lunch Lady," have joined forces for a second year to help bring fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins to school lunch programs and raise awareness around healthier school food through a project that will fund salad bars for public schools across the country.

    "With childhood obesity levels at an all-time high, everyone has a stake in this fight and must take action to help change the way our children eat both at home and school," said Walter Robb, co-chief executive officer for Whole Foods Market. "We see partnering with our shoppers to raise funds for salad bars in local schools as an immediate way for us to come together and make an impact on our children's health in the communities we serve. Our goal is to provide a salad bar in a local school in each of the communities we serve with our 300 stores."

    From now until Sept. 29, shoppers may donate to the project at the check-out or make a donation online through saladbarproject.org. Each salad bar kit costs approximately $2,500 dollars, and includes a Cambro® portable 5-well salad bar unit with all the necessary insert pans, cutting boards, knives and shipping costs. Salad bar training tools and videos for school nutrition staff will also be available through TheLunchBox.org, which Whole Foods Market shoppers helped to raise funds to build last year so all schools can have access to tools for healthier food.

    The salad bars will be donated to local schools through a simple online grant process. Whole Foods Market is partnering with Cooper's nonprofit, F3: Food Family Farming Foundation, which will administer the process. Any public elementary, middle or high school within 50 miles of a Whole Foods Market is eligible to apply with the support of the school principal, nutrition service director and the superintendent of the district. The online application and full criteria is available at saladbarproject.org.

    The application asks for basic school information such as the percentage of students enrolled in the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Program and participation in the school's Reimbursable School Lunch Program. Grant applications will be accepted between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. Applicants chosen based on the grant criteria and the level of the school's commitment to sustaining the salad bar will be announced in early January 2011.

    "The time is ripe for 31 million children. They deserve a solution and this Salad Bar Project is just that. I know we can make thousands of salad bars a reality for schools everywhere. Since adding a healthy salad bar to school lunch options is the number one thing parents and advocates can do to help improve school food, this is a win-win for schools and their students," said Chef Ann Cooper.

    Last year, Whole Foods Market and shoppers donated more than $700,000 to fund "The Lunchbox Project," an online resource created by Chef Ann Cooper's F3 Foundation, which helps public schools provide more nutritious lunches for kids. The funds were used to develop TheLunchBox.org Web site, which was launched for the 2010 school year. The online tool offers free, comprehensive resources to help schools replace highly processed foods with fresh, natural, made-from-scratch foods in a realistic, cost-effective manner.

    "Making small changes, like replacing French fries with fresh fruits, steamed or raw vegetables and whole grains can make a big difference," said Robb. "A fresh, healthy salad bar with an array of colorful choices empowers children to make smart food choices."

    More than 31 million children eat a federally funded school lunch daily through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). On average, only 90 cents per lunch is spent on food and many children are eating mostly frozen, highly processed, packaged foods. With no national standardized limit on sugar or other ingredients like artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, it is common to find hamburgers, chicken nuggets, French fries, chocolate milk and corn dogs offered as a typical school lunch.

    Last week, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the Child Nutrition Act that would make changes to the types of foods that can be sold in schools. The House of Representatives now needs to pass its version of the bill in time for President Obama to sign the legislation before Sept. 30, when the current Act expires. Failing to do so puts the new funding and other policy changes in jeopardy.

    For more information about The Salad Bar Projects as well as solutions for affordable, healthy lunches and recipe ideas visit Whole Foods Market's Web site at: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/backtoschool/.

Back to Top