Wedge Co-op Awards Local Nonprofits $50,000 in Grants Through Annual WedgeShare Program
CONTACT: Molly Gaines, molly@modernstorytellers.com, 612-372-6454
2/16/07
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.— As part of its mission to promote education about food and environmental responsibility, Wedge Co-op has awarded seven local and regional nonprofits with checks totaling $50,000 for their initiatives focused on the environment, natural health and natural food.
The annual WedgeShare giving program has provided grants to nonprofits since 1998. This year’s grant recipients include: Cornucopia Institute, Farmer’s Legal Action Group (FLAG), In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, Land Stewardship Project, Local Fair Trade Network, Northside Food Project and Youth Farm and Market Project.
“Throughout the program’s history, WedgeShare has given nearly $240,000to some of the region’s most pioneering nonprofits,” said Marcy Cordes, board president for the Wedge Co-op. “We’re proud to honor this year’s WedgeShare winners with funds that will further advance their incredible dedication to creating better, more sustainable communities.”
The Wedge’s board of directors reviewed this year’s 14 applications and determined which ones most closely matched WedgeShare grant criteria. Wedge member-owners selected the WedgeShare grant recipients. Nonprofits that apply for WedgeShare grants must be non-partisan, non-sectarian and focus on one or more of the following areas: environmental quality, protection or beautification; natural health and wellness; natural food and sustainable agriculture; community involvement and capacity building; and/or cooperative-related activities.
Following are descriptions of the winners and the grant amounts each will receive:
$9,000 WedgeShare Grant Recipients
Farmer’s Legal Action Group (FLAG), www.flaginc.org
For 20 years, St. Paul-based Farmer’s Legal Action Group (FLAG), a nonprofit law center, has helped family farmers succeed in their struggle to stay on the land and has worked to defend the integrity of the organic label. FLAG helps ensure that decisions on organic standards are made by independent organic experts, not federal agencies with uncertain commitments to sustainable agriculture. FLAG also helps prevent corporations from cashing in on the reputation of organics when they undermine the strict standards that consumers expect.
Youth Farm and Market Project, www.youthfarm.net
The Youth Farm and Market Project’s mission is to nurture relationships between urban youth and their families, communities and the earth around them by growing, cooking, eating and selling healthy food. The Minneapolis-based organization focuses its work on three primary areas: urban agriculture, youth organizing and cultural nutrition.
$8,000 WedgeShare Grant Recipients
Cornucopia Institute, www.cornucopia.org
Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute works with family farmers, consumer/urban allies and food cooperatives to defend the integrity of organics. The organization is emerging as the most aggressive voice protecting organic ethics from unacceptable production shortcuts and corporate profiteering. Cornucopiais rallying family farmers with consumer/urban allies and food cooperatives in a grassroots defense of organics.
Land Stewardship Project, www.landstewardshipproject.org
The Land Stewardship Project organizes Minnesotans so they can have an impact on the decisions that affect food and the agricultural system. Land Stewardship Project’s mission is to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture and to develop sustainable communities. The organization helps organize local communities to stop targeted factory farms; promotes sound public policy that supports family farms and a healthy environment; and assists people who want to begin farming sustainably.
$6,000 WedgeShare Grant Recipient
Local Fair Trade Network, www.localfairtrade.org
In the effort to strengthen local economies, promote sustainable farming, and ensure economic justice, Local Fair Trade Network works with community members and stakeholders to define Local Fair Trade. Its goal is to develop a Local Fair Trade certification process, which would help farmers and farm workers economically and provide consumers with local, sustainable and socially responsible product choices.
$5,000 WedgeShare Grant Recipients
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, www.heartofthebeasttheatre.org
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre is a professional puppet and mask theater acclaimed for its artistic excellence, commitment to building community and dedication to social justice. The company creates main stage and touring productions, public ceremonial works and education activities. Its most recent project, titled Invigorate the Common Well, is a groundbreaking performance series promoting the communal responsibility for the stewardship of water.
Northside Food Project, www.northsidefoodproject.org
The Northside Food Project addresses the need for fresh, nutritious food in north Minneapolis, while helping to generate new markets for rural producers. In doing so, the project helps improve access to affordable, nutritious food for all residents; increase community residents’ knowledge and consumption of healthy and local foods; renew entrepreneurial opportunities for home-based and other small businesses; and improve social capacity and effective community-building between critical community participants.
About Wedge Co-op
The Wedge Co-op is a natural and organic food cooperative with nearly 13,000 member-owners who live in Uptown, downtown and throughout the Twin Cities area. Founded in 1974, the Wedge has grown to become the largest single store, consumer-owned, natural food cooperative in the United States. The co-op is dedicated to offering the freshest, highest-quality natural and organic food and the most friendly, informed staff of any grocer.
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