Everybody deserves access to healthy food choices – that’s exactly why Whole Foods Market created Whole Cities Foundation!

In November of 2018, we awarded $255,000 to 51 organizations that are increasing access to fresh, healthy food in their cities through the Community First Grant Program.

Through the program, Whole Foods Market Team Members nominate non-profits for a $5,000 grant. Programs funded include urban farms, mobile markets, and community gardens that get real food into people’s hands!

Here’s a snapshot of the Class of 2018:

  • Grantees represent 40 cities in 21 states!
  • 13 community partners from the 2017 program reapplied and were awarded again.
  • A total of $630,000 has been awarded since the Community First Grant launched in 2016.

At the heart of each partnership is a deep respect for the good that already exists in the community’s food system and a desire to work with local leaders to build it up for the better.

Please join us in congratulating all the 2018 community partners and Whole Foods Market Team Members!

 

Florida

Community Partner: Health In the Hood Inc. | Miami Beach, Florida
Team Member: Jimmy Jaime  | South Beach store

Community Partner: Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Inc. | Winter Park, Florida
Team Member: James  Thomas | Winter Park North Store

Community Partner: House Of Hope | Gainesville, Florida
Team Member: Chloe Dunnell  | Gainesville Store

 

Mid-Atlantic

Community Partner: Franklinton Farms | Columbus, Ohio
Team Member: Alexandra Carson | West Lane Store

Community Partner: Norristown Project | Spring House, Pennsylvania
Team Member: Ali Resden | Springhouse store

Community Partner: Urbanstead | Philadelphia, PA
Team Member: Debbie Rivette | Mid-Atlantic Regional Office

 

Midwest

Community Partner: Keep Growing Detroit | Detroit, MI
Team Member: Julie Wainwright | Midtown Detroit store

Community Partner: The Community Gardens of Hope Hill | St. Louis, MO
Team Member:  Edward Whittington| Galleria store

Community Partner: Urban Harvest STL | St. Louis,  MO
Team Member: Jessica Seratti | St. Louis Metro (Galleria)

Community Partner: YWCA Evanston/Northshore | Chicago, IL
Team Member: Rachel Vanhoose | Sauganash Store

 

North Atlantic

Community Partner: Backyard Growers | Gloucester, MA
Team Member: Carol Styczko | Pigeon Cove Seafood Facility

Community Partner: Charter Oak Cultural Center | Glastonbury, CT
Team Member: Tom Neal | Glastonbury Store

Community Partner: Full Circle Garden | Hadley, MA
Team Member: Jane Pearson | Hadley store

Community Partner: Groundwork Somerville | Somerville, MA
Team Member: Amy Mercier | Somerville store

Community Partner: Grow Nashua | Nashua, NH
Team Member: Cathy Joly | Nashua store

Community Partner: Mill City Grows | Lowell, MA
Team Member: Jaimee Rondeau | Area East Marketing

 

Northeast

Community Partner: Capital Roots | Albany, NY
Team Member: Agnes Kerley | Albany Store

Community Partner: City Green | Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Team Member: Amy Epstein | Northeast Regional Support

Community Partner: Hester Street | Brooklyn, NY
Team Member: Maryann Young | Brooklyn Store

Community Partner: Red Hook Initiative | Brooklyn, NY
Team Member: Maryann Young | Brooklyn Store

Community Partner: United Community Centers | Brooklyn, NY
Team Member: Selom Adzamli | Brooklyn Store

 

Northern California

Community Partner: GiJosie, Inc. | Monterey, CA
Team Member: Kelli Takikawa | Monterey store

Community Partner: Homeless Garden Project | Santa Cruz, CA
Team Member: Beth Plevy Wyland | Northern California Regional Support

Community Partner: SOUL | Oakland, CA
Team Member: Juliette Tiger | Oakland Store

Community Partner: Spectrum Community Services Inc. | San Ramon, CA
Team Member: Roland Freiberg | San Ramon Store

Community Partner: Veggielution | San Jose, CA
Team Member: Alexander Estrada | Alameda store

 

Pacific Northwest

Community Partner: Common Threads Farm | Bellevue, WA
Team Member: Leah Abell | Pacific Northwest Regional Support

Community Partner: Foundation for Sustainable Community | Bellevue, WA
Team Member: Leah Abell | Pacific Northwest Regional Support

Community Partner: Solid Ground | Bellevue, WA
Team Member: Leah Abell | Pacific Northwest Regional Support

 

Rocky Mountain

Community Partner: Hunger Free Colorado | Denver, CO
Team Member: Alison Goodhart | Union Station store

Community Partner: Veterans to Farmers | Colorado Springs, CO
Team Member: Lisa McCranie | Pikes Peak store

 

South

Community Partner: Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN
Team Member: Mark Zielke | Chattanooga store

Community Partner: EATSouth | Montgomery, AL
Team Member: Deric Sallas | Montgomery store

Community Partner: Feast Down East | Wilmington, NC
Team Member: Chelsea Thornhill | Wilmington store

Community Partner: Knowledge Quest | Memphis, TN
Team Member: Lexi Adams | Poplar Avenue and Germantown stores

Community Partner: Landmark Training Development Company | Memphis, TN
Team Member: Lexi Adams | Poplar Avenue and Germantown stores

Community Partner: Memphis Tilth | Memphis, TN
Team Member: Lexi Adams | Poplar Avenue and Germantown stores

Community Partner: Ship Outreach and Community Center | Cary, NC
Team Member: Erwin Davenport | Cary store

Community Partner: World Hunger Team, Inc. | Franklin, TN
Team Member: Nakita Click-Putala | McEwen store

 

Southern Pacific

Community Partner: Farm LA | Redondo Beach, CA
Team Member: Michelle Woodruff | Redondo Beach store

Community Partner: Vegas Roots | Las Vegas, NV
Team Member: Gabrielle Thomas | Las Vegas Metro

 

Southwest

Community Partner: Bonton Farms | Dallas, TX
Team Member: Steffany Villalobos | Southwest Regional office

Community Partner: Healthy BR | Baton Rouge, LA
Team Member: Lindsey Litchfield | South Louisiana Metro

Community Partner: Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration | Fort Worth, TX
Team Member: Steffany Villalobos | Southwest Regional office

Community Partner: Taste Project | Fort Worth, TX
Team Member: Steffany Villalobos | Southwest Regional office

Community Partner: Townfolk, Inc. | Lafayette, LA
Team Member: Paul Weinbach | Ambassador Caffery store

Community Partner: West Houston Assistance Ministries | Houston, TX
Team Member: Michael Cooley | Westchase store

 

Global

Community Partner: Foundation Communities | Austin, Texas
Team Member: Selina  Serna | Global Support

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