Whole Foods Market Plants Seeds of Generosity on Black Friday With Centrepoint Fundraiser

LONDON, November 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Organic and natural food and goods retailer Whole Foods Market is turning its back on the consumerism synonymous with Black Friday by asking shoppers to slow their spending and donate to youth homelessness charity Centrepoint, for their second partnership year.  

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161124/442751 )

As a rebuff against the growing trend of deep discounts designed to get customers in store Whole Foods Market are again making a stand and re-naming the day to "Give Back Friday!". The fundraising drive will see Whole Foods Market generously donating 5% of their daily gross sales. The giving doesn't stop there though, as Centrepoint is Whole Foods Market's chosen Christmas charity for the second year running and customers will be able to add donations to their bill at all store till points throughout November and December.

A staggering 150,000 young people approach local authorities and charities for support because they are homeless or at risk of homelessness every year in the UK. The effects of homelessness are devastating, latest figures show that when young people arrive at Centrepoint 73% have experienced abuse, violence or a family breakdown, 54% are not in education, employment or training and 18% have attempted suicide.

Whole Foods Market raised a fantastic £31,946 during last year's campaign and their targets are set high again this year, as an official corporate sponsor as part of Centrepoint's partnership with the Evening Standard.

Benjamin Woodgate, Marketing Coordinator at Whole Foods Market comments on the partnership: "We are proud and delighted to be partnering with Centrepoint during the festive season for the second year running. At Whole Foods Market we have a humble appreciation for the efforts of the Centrepoint team throughout the year but especially during the Christmas period and winter months. We are always overwhelmed with the incredible generosity from our customers when it comes to our higher purpose, and already we have seen this giving through donations in our London store till points. As a main rallying day during the campaign, we're going against the Black Friday retail trend of deep discounts and instead we're donating 5% of our daily gross sales to Centrepoint - we encourage everyone to shop with us on Friday 25^th for Give Back Friday."

Nicholas Connolly, Head of Corporate Development at Centrepoint, said: "We are delighted to have the continued support of Whole Foods Market for their Christmas campaign this year. With the number of young people sleeping rough in London doubling in recent years, this support is truly invaluable. This winter alone, almost 25,000 young people will be at risk, making dangerous choices just to survive. This campaign will fund the vital work of Centrepoint who support more than 9,000 homeless young people every year with a safe place to stay, health support and life skills to get young people back into education, employment and a home of their own. No young person should have to make dangerous choices to survive and with support from companies like Whole Foods Market, we can ensure that more vulnerable young people don't have to."

To contact the Press Team at Whole Foods Market please email ukpublicrelations@wholefoods.com or follow on social media:

Facebook - Whole Foods London -  Twitter @WFMLondon and Instagram @wholefoodslondon

About Centrepoint

•    Centrepoint is the leading charity for homeless young people aged 16-25.

•    Centrepoint supports over 9,000 homeless young people a year.

•    It provides accommodation-based and floating support services in London and the North of England.

•    Centrepoint's work is about more than just providing a safe bed for the night; Centrepoint helps young people to turn their lives around by gaining essential life skills; tackling their physical and mental health issues and moving into education or employment.

•    Through policy work, Centrepoint aims to influence public policy, campaigning on behalf of the young people it supports and homeless young people throughout the UK.

•    Founded in 1969, Centrepoint has helped more than 116,000 homeless young people.

•    HRH The Duke of Cambridge became Centrepoint's Patron in 2005.

SOURCE Whole Foods Market and Centrepoint