Whole lotta helpin’

Corporate Giving story for The Commercial Appeal

May 29, 2009

While the culture of giving at Whole Foods grocery store may come from the store’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, the beneficiaries are all local.

“It’s a great philosophy,” says Liza Burke, Whole Foods spokeswoman in Memphis, “because who knows better what works in your community than your community?”

Once per quarter, Whole Foods donates 5 percent of its net profit for a day to a nonprofit chosen by a vote of the store’s 120 employees.

There is an application process for charities to be considered, and they are allowed to make a presentation to the employees … (read more)