Small Change Fundraiser Benefits Big Culinary Dreams

Chris Speere, MCA External Program Coordinator, Kahealani Domingo, MCA student, Elyse Ditzel, WFM Marketing, Mark Martinez, WFM Store Team Leader. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Island culinary students are the recipients of a $977.24 check from a Recycle Your Change fund drive at Whole Foods Maui.

To-date, Whole Foods Market’s Community Support Days have raised more than $100,000 for Maui nonprofits.

The market’s quarterly drive gives customers an opportunity to contribute change or additional donations to a designated community group.

The September event benefits students enrolled at the University of Hawai’i Maui College’s Maui Culinary Academy

“We are thrilled to be able to support the UHMC Maui Culinary Academy,” said Mark Martinez, WFM Kahului Store Team Leader in a press statement today. “The school continues to be a shining example of Hawaiʻi’s rich culinary heritage and we are particularly proud to have some of the Academy’s graduates as fellow team members.”

Maui Culinary Academy External Program Coordinator Chris Speere said the collaboration between Whole Foods has grown.

“They provide sponsored employment opportunities for our students, donations of food and beverages for our fundraising activities, “Guest Chef” demonstrations in the art of healthy food preparation, and they serve as a sponsor of our MCA hosted Taste Education Series offered in partnership with Slow Food Maui,” said Speere.