Month: August 2024

I’m thrilled to introduce Whole Foods Market Foundation, which unifies the work of Whole Planet, Whole Kids and Whole Cities. While our organization is new, our commitment to advancing economic opportunities, nutrition, and healthy food access in local and global communities was established years ago. Our projects began in 2005 with the founding of Whole Planet and grew with the launch of Whole Kids in 2011 and Whole Cities in 2014.

Although they originally operated separately, the three projects have always strived to create a more equitable future for all. To us, this means everyone deserves improved access to resources that meet their basic needs, nourishing foods, thriving local food systems, and opportunities to improve their economic well-being. By working together, our projects can expand their reach and impact to further fulfill the shared higher purpose to nourish people and the planet.

In my 20+ years as a Team Member with Whole Foods Market, I have witnessed the positive impact that fresh, healthy food has on individuals and communities. I see Whole Foods Market Foundation’s work as a natural extension of that connection.

The Foundation invests in opportunities that address barriers to equity, nourish communities, and foster deep, lasting change around the globe. In some cities, this looks like funding urban gardens or guiding school districts transforming their school lunch programs from processed foods to scratch-cooked meals. In other places, we’re providing financial support to smallholder farmers, microentrepreneurs, and households living in poverty.

Our programs have been helping individuals and their communities thrive for many years, and that work isn’t changing. It’s evolving.

Through this blog, you can stay up to date on Whole Cities, Whole Kids and Whole Planet to learn about grant opportunities, get stories from the field, and discover ways you can help make a global impact. If you aren’t familiar with all of our projects, take a moment to learn about them here.

We’re glad you’re here.

Carol Medeiros, WFM Foundation Executive Director

As we gear up for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Comcast NBCUniversal is raising the American flag in communities nationwide through a heartfelt initiative known as Operation Old Glory.

Members of Comcast’s Veterans Network (VetNet) employee resource group launched Operation Old Glory in 2017 to honor our nation’s greatest symbol, the American flag. Since then, our dedicated Comcast Flag Ambassadors have replaced thousands of worn or damaged flags at homes and businesses in our service areas, free of charge.

Now, two Team USA athletes have joined the effort.

In June, U.S. Paralympian Dennis Connors teamed up with our Flag Ambassadors in Oregon to replace the American flag at his local community center. Connors is a para-cycling world champion, combat veteran, and traumatic brain injury and stroke survivor. He served nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, deploying three times to Iraq and earning the Defense Meritorious Service Medal in 2010.

“From the battlefield to the Paralympic racecourse, my journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Being injured in combat, I faced moments of doubt and despair. But it was the spirit of perseverance and camaraderie that I learned in the military that pushed me forward,” Connors said. “Every time I see the American flag, it’s a powerful reminder of what we have accomplished as a nation and of what we can overcome.”

Operation Old Glory strikes a chord with me because it honors not just the flag but the people who have stood behind it.

Dennis Connors

U.S. Paralympian, Para-cycling

Meanwhile, Team USA athlete Grant Holloway joined our Flag Ambassadors in Florida to replace a weathered flag at the golf course where his foundation hosts its annual charity event. Holloway is a five-time world champion, U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist, and world record holder in the 60m hurdles. His father, Stan Holloway, served in the U.S. Navy for two decades.

“As someone who grew up in a military family, the values of discipline and dedication were instilled in me from a very young age. The American flag, for me, is not just a symbol of our country—it’s a tribute to the sacrifices my father and countless others have made,” Holloway said. “Representing the USA on a global stage is my way of honoring that legacy and showing the world the strength and resilience that come from a military family.”

Knowing that Comcast supports the military community through initiatives like Operation Old Glory makes me proud to be part of this campaign. It’s about lifting each other up and honoring our roots.

Grant Holloway

U.S. Olympian, Track and Field

But that’s not all. With the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, our Comcast Flag Ambassadors are redoubling their efforts to replace flags across the country, bringing Operation Old Glory to new communities in Washington as well as to those recovering from severe storms in Texas.

“We are grateful to our teammates who volunteer their time and skills to participate in Operation Old Glory. Their efforts are a testament to the spirit of service that drives our company, and we are committed to expanding this program to reach even more communities in the lead-up to Paris 2024,” said Mona Dexter, Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs, Comcast NBCUniversal.

All flags provided through Operation Old Glory are made in America and supplied by a veteran-owned business. We also ensure our Flag Ambassadors are trained on the customs and courtesies for properly handling the American flag, including the 13 Folds tradition.

At Comcast NBCUniversal, we believe in connecting with the military community by creating an inclusive workplace for our military teammates and special experiences for military customers and communities. In addition to our suite of exclusive benefits, we’re proud to provide service members and honorably discharged veterans worldwide with free access to NBCUniversal’s full coverage of the Olympic Games through our partnership with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.

Visit military.comcast.com to learn more about Comcast’s military engagement efforts, and cheer on Dennis Connors, Grant Holloway, and other Team USA athletes on NBC and Peacock as they compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

ARVIN, Calif., August 9, 2024 /3BL/ – The City of Arvin, California and Veolia North America broke ground on a new solar energy installation that will meet all the power needs of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and eliminate its greenhouse gas emissions from power generation. Since energy can account for as much as 30% of water treatment costs, this project provides an economic and environmental benefit.  

Veolia has operated and maintained the City of Arvin’s wastewater treatment plant for more than a decade. Last year the city and Veolia began discussions about using renewable energy to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of the plant’s operation as part of Veolia’s GreenUp strategy, which aims to position Veolia as a driver of technological innovations. The project will generate one megawatt of electricity, or enough to power about 205 homes. The project is financed through a combination of low interest municipal financing and the Federal Inflation Reduction Act.

The City of Arvin has long been a sustainability leader among cities. They lead the nation in the number of electric vehicle charging stations per capita, and were the first city to adopt an all-electric fleet of city buses. This decarbonized wastewater plant is only the latest in a series of energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction projects undertaken by the city.

Susana Reyes, Arvin City Mayor Pro Tem, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Veolia on this renewable energy project at the wastewater treatment plant.”

Jeff Jones, Arvin City Manager, said: “This project will save the City thousands of dollars on annual energy bills and is a great green energy project for Arvin.”

Christine Viterelli, Arvin’s Grant Manager,, who has been pioneering the city’s energy efficiency and fleet transition projects since 2016 said: “Arvin is a small, rural community in Kern County that is mighty when it comes to making significant progress in its fleet transition to electric, solar, and EV Charging. Every renewable energy project that is constructed will have an impact in reducing air pollution and greenhouse gasses.” 

Patrick Schultz, CEO of Veolia Sustainable Industries and Buildings, said: “We are thrilled to partner the City of Arvin and our technical partners to make this unique renewable energy installation a reality. Forward thinking cities like Arvin recognize that water and energy are scarce resources that must be conserved for long-term community benefit. Projects like this are part of our ‘Green Up’ strategy. Veolia is uniquely positioned to help cities and industries improve their operations while meeting their sustainability goals.” 

ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA
A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. www.veolianorthamerica.com

ABOUT VEOLIA GROUP
Veolia’s ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. With nearly 218,000 employees on five continents, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for managing water, waste and energy that help to radically change the world. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them. In 2023, the Veolia group served 113 million people with drinking water and 103 million with wastewater services, produced 42 terawatt-hours of energy and recovered 63 million metric tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) generated consolidated sales of €45.3 billion in 2023. www.veolia.com