Surya Brasil Supports Global Non-Profits

Vegan beauty marketer Surya Brasil is sponsoring the Whole Planet Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides funds to microfinance institutions (MFI), working to alleviate poverty around the globe. This month, Surya Brasil, along with other companies, embarked on a week-long trip to Guatemala with the Whole Planet Foundation to volunteer with their community partner The Phoenix Projects and visit microcredit clients of their microfinance partner, Friendship Bridge.

Founded in 2005, the Whole Planet Foundation, a Whole Foods Market foundation, funds poverty alleviation worldwide where the company sources products. The nonprofit's mission is to empower the world's poorest people, primarily women, with microcredit and a chance to create or expand a home-based business to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. As of June 2017, the Whole Planet Foundation has disbursed $65 million dollars through microfinance partners, creating 12 million opportunities for microentrepreneurs to flourish.

To date, the Whole Planet Foundation has funded 2 million microloans in the United States and 68 other countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America.

“For the past year, we have been thrilled to support this initiative and were ecstatic to be invited to join them on this mission to witness first-hand the impact that even a small gesture can have over a whole community,” says Clelia Angelon, founder and CEO of Surya Brasil. “The beauty of this program is that as people repay the microloans, they may also be able to receive many other benefits such as healthcare, education, and training offered by the microfinance institutions. This holistic approach ensures that these women can start or expand their small businesses to find their own sustainable solutions to poverty.”

In addition to their philanthropic work with the Whole Planet Foundation, Surya Brasil promotes social responsibility through its Surya Solidarity Institute projects.