Endangered Species Chocolate Tallies Charitable Giving
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis-based Endangered Species Chocolate says it has donated more than $1 million over the last three years to worldwide conservation efforts. The company gives 10 percent of net profits from chocolate sales to select programs. January 14, 2015
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) announced today that the past three years of its 10 percent GiveBack program has resulted in an investment of more than $1 million to support conservation programs worldwide. The company donates 10 percent of net profits generated through the sale of its premium chocolate to partner organizations that support species preservation and habitat conservation. African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and The Xerces Society are current recipients of Endangered Species Chocolate's 10 percent GiveBack donations.
“Our 10 percent GiveBack program is the heart of who we are as a company – and is a philanthropic program that I am extremely proud of,” says Curt Vander Meer, CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate. “The impact made through the work of our GiveBack partners is significant. We remain committed to these global efforts and look forward to supporting the conservation goals of our partners.”
ESC's support has allowed AWF and The Xerces Society to broaden their reach in the following areas:
Bring Back the Pollinators
This nationwide Xerces Society campaign assists communities in growing native plants and reducing pesticide use to boost pollinator populations. This year, the Xerces Society collaborated with President Obama on how federal agencies can incorporate pollinator-friendly practices in new construction and on federal lands.
Increased Counter-Poaching Measures
AWF has strengthened counter-poaching programs in 20 priority elephant and rhino habitats across sub-Saharan Africa. Increased patrols and equipment in areas around Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, Tanzania's Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks and Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park have decreased—and in some cases eliminated altogether—poaching in heavily patrolled areas.
Reducing Ivory Demand
Global demand for luxury ivory items is fueling the illegal killing of an estimated 35,000 elephants a year in Africa. AWF and its partners produced a series of “Say No to Ivory” videos featuring celebrities like Yao Ming, Prince William, and David Beckham. In China, the largest market for illegal ivory, the videos aired 7,697 times across 22 television channels in 2013 in an effort to promote awareness about the poaching crisis and reduce demand for elephant ivory.
Investing in Effective Strategies
AWF is supporting the efforts of the Ruaha Carnivore Project in southern Tanzania as it records valuable data on lion, cheetah and leopard movements and numbers through camera traps. This information is used to plan effective conservation programs in one of the most important habitats remaining for these difficult-to-monitor carnivores.
Saving South Africa's Rhinos
South Africa is home to 83 percent of Africa's estimated 25,000 rhinos. In 2014, more than 1,000 of the southern African country's rhinos were killed by poachers, and 1,020 were killed in 2013. AWF is supporting foot and aerial patrols at a number of private reserves, which serve as strongholds for the threatened pachyderm. This support has facilitated the construction of an airplane hangar and the purchase of a helicopter, among other initiatives
“In a world where very little can be taken at face value and hype is often confused with a commitment to honest work, it is reassuring to see Endangered Species Chocolate exemplify its brand name every day,” says Kurt Redenbo, AWF's director of foundation and corporate relations.
ESC will post 2016-2018 10 percent GiveBack Partnership applications on their website in early May 2015. All applications are due by July 31, 2015. Announcements regarding the next recipients of the 10 percent GiveBack will be made by October 30, 2015.
About Endangered Species Chocolate
Indianapolis-based Endangered Species Chocolate is a mission-driven company that is passionate about chocolate and the environment. Endangered Species Chocolate is committed to providing chocolate-lovers with premium, natural chocolates that are ethically traded and sustainably grown. Adding to the impact of each chocolate bar, Endangered Species Chocolate donates 10 percent of net profits to fund species and habitat conservation. A top selling brand in the natural food category, Endangered Species Chocolate offers more than 30 products. For more information, visit www.chocolatebar.com
Source: Endangered Species Chocolate