News Briefs
ASA Applauds Timely WhiteWave Foods Donation To World Soy Foundation
October 16, 2008...Source: ASA Leader Letter...The American Soybean Association (ASA) announced today, World Food Day, that WhiteWave Foods, is expanding its commitment to a project that provides nutritious meals to school children in Ghana, as well as supports sustainable economic development in the West African country.
WhiteWave is donating $75,000 over the next three years to ASA’s World Soy Foundation (WSF) to increase its partnership with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). "The new funding will allow the World Soy Foundation to purchase, transport and install a ‘VitaGoat’ soymilk processing machine, as well as train operators and provide a year’s worth of soybeans, enough to feed a school of 280 children for at least one school year and have sufficient product to sell to the community as a sustainable small enterprise," said ASA and WSF Board member Scott Fritz.
Ghana has made economic progress, yet 45 percent of the population still lives on less than $1 a day, according to the United Nations. In some parts of the country, including the north, nearly half of the children are stunted because of under-nutrition.
WhiteWave Foods, headquartered in Broomfield, Colo., first contributed to WSF when the foundation was created in late 2006. That initial support of $20,000 aided ADRA’s school feeding in Ghana, which WSF leveraged through contributions from Iowa soybean farmers. "WhiteWave is once again walking the talk of sustainability in the campaign against global hunger," said WSF Executive Director Jim Hershey. "This effort will encourage children to attend school where they can receive a nutritious meal while it advances local food production and economic opportunity."
