Organic Processing Vo1.5 #4

can redeem to adopt a puffin.

Another take on this is to save endangered humans. Shaman Chocolates was developed to provide an income for the Huichol, a small tribe living in central western Mexico in the Sierra Madre Mountains, who are said to be the last tribe in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions. Shaman Chocolates gives all the profit back to the tribe, providing continuing economic support that enables the Huichols to live in their traditional ways rather than have to work for major agribusinesses.

Supporting Women. Developing countries also have gender equality issues and thus many companies reach out to women specifically. Elan Organic Coffee has helped women on many levels including supporting a cooperative of Nicaraguan war widows, Soppexcca, by purchasing and promoting their coffee in North

^{America and helping create busi-}Zaroff, Founder of Under the Canopy, at a women’s edu- ness empowerment training for cation function in India. women coffee growers in Columbia. Elan also helped fund the first Finca micro-loan bank for women in Cooperativa La Voz Que Clama en El Desierto of Guatemala, resulting in a successful weaving cooperative.

“Improving the status of women is widely recognized as one of the most effective strategies for addressing other challenges facing communities around the world today,” said Karen Cebreros, owner of Elan and co-founder of the

International Women’s Coffee Alliance. “When women are fully involved, benefits can be seen immediately. Families are healthier because they are better fed and their income, savings and investments go up.”

For women in these countries, it’s about providing opportunities which socially or economically may have not been available. Sometimes it’s just about offering a way to earn an income. To give women a way to support themselves, yet still care for their children, Numi Tea started a program where women can assemble bamboo items from home.

Sometimes it’s about empowering women beyond just making a living wage. Working with farmers in India, Marci Zaroff, founder of Under the Canopy, discovered that many girls are denied the opportunity to go to school because families simply can’t afford it. The family may pay for the boys to go, but schooling for girls in many developing countries is consid-

Partnering with Non-Profits

There are many ways that companies can partner with non-profit organizations. Steaz (Healthy Beverage Company) sources much of their green tea from Sri Lanka, and so when the tsunami hit in 2004, Steaz wanted to do something to rebuild the community. So they got creative and found a way to raise over $100,000 to help victims of the natural disaster, in part by auctioning off celebrity-designed cans of their product. They then worked with the Sri Lanka Foundation to build homes for those who lost theirs in the disaster. Another way to give back is by committing a portion of your proceeds to a good cause. Since they were founded in 1997, Peace Cereal has been donating 10 percent of proceeds in the form of annual grants to peaceful organizations and has now honored more than 50 groups, donating more than $1 million. Their sister company, Yogi Tea, also donated 10 percent of their Women’s Formula to The Breast Cancer Research Fund and has contributed over $20,000 so far. In regards to finding a non-profit to work with, Jean Weidemann, founder of the Jean Weidemann Foundation has brought together many non-profits and businesses, working with organizations ranging from the World Bank to UNICEF and the Jane Goodall Foundation. She offers these tips: • Link only with an organization that has thoroughly assessed the needs of the