Celebrating our partnership with the Whole Planet Foundation

From left to right:

Brian Doe, Africa Field Programme Manager for Whole Planet Foundation
Dr Howard Jones, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London
Daniella Hawkins, Social Performance Manager, MicroLoan Foundation
Stephen Claypole, Chairman of DMA-Media
Joy Stoddard, Executive Partnership Development and Internal Programmes Director for Whole Planet Foundation
Peter Ryan, Founder and CEO, MicroLoan Foundation
David Young, Chairman, MicroLoan Foundation
Jeff Turnas, Regional President of Whole Foods Market UK

On Tuesday 20th March 2012, Whole Planet Foundation (the charitable arm of Whole Foods Market) and MicroLoan Foundation, came together to hold a Roundtable discussion on the contribution of microfinance in eradicating poverty and to highlight our special partnership. Beginning in 2011, the support from Whole Planet Foundation is enabling MicroLoan Foundation to expand its work into Southern Malawi and to reach thousands more women in rural areas.
In 2011 our partnership helped MicroLoan Foundation to reach out to 1,270 new clients in Southern Malawi. The next stage will deliver our vital financial and business training services to an additional 3,000 women by the end of 2013.
Peter Ryan, CEO and Founder of MicroLoan Foundation, attended the event: “It was a great opportunity to celebrate this special relationship. The contribution that Whole Planet Foundation is making to microfinance is unique. We are proud to be their partner and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support and the capacity it has given our organisation to reach further into the poorest communities, giving women that crucial chance to work their own way out of poverty”

Links
Visit http://wholeplanetfoundation.org/
Visit http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

About the MicroLoan Foundation

The MicroLoan Foundation is a responsible and non-profit UK microfinance charity that provides microfinance (small loans of on average £70), business education and ongoing mentoring support to impoverished women in sub-Saharan Africa. This provides them with a “hand-up not a hand out” so they can develop self-sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families, and work their own way out of poverty. 99% of the loans are repaid and then recycled in full to help more women year after year.

In addition to visiting the MicroLoan website, more information is available on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.

MicroLoan Foundation Contact:
Rupy Kaur
Digital Marketing and Communications Manager
rupy.kaur@microloanfoundation.org.uk
020 8827 1691

AxiCom Contact (PR for the MicroLoan Foundation)
Helena Parule
Account Manager
helena.reid@axicom.com