Whole Foods Market and The New Children's Museum Announce Year-Long Partnership

May 13, 2014

The New Children's Museum and Whole Foods Market kicked-off their year-long partnership with the presentation of a $18,695 check to the Museum, which will help fund monthly toddler programming and a new parent/child cooking series, as part of the Museum’s recently launched food-related exhibition Feast: The Art of Playing With Your Food. Whole Foods Market’s San Diego store and it shoppers community raised the funds through its 5% Day held on Feb. 18, donating 5% of its after tax profits from the day’s sales to the Museum.

“Whole Foods Market strives to make a difference in the communities we serve,” said Maria Mugica, Marketing Field Associate for Orange County and San Diego for Whole Foods Market. “Partnering with The New Children’s Museum to sponsor their toddler and family-specific programming helps us further our mission to promote the health, well being and healing for the children of San Diego.”

The New Children's Museum hosts weekly facilitated Toddler Programming that values the whole child and supports healthy bodies and minds, with music, movement and social play for young children. The Whole Foods Market sponsorship includes program funding for one Friday (the third Friday) each month. More information is available at thinkplaycreate.org/toddlers.

“Our Feast exhibition gives us an opportunity to talk about community, sustainability and the environment, family traditions and health,” said Julianne Markow, Executive Director of the Museum. “Whole Foods Market is a perfect partner to help us explore these topics with our visitors and members.”

The second title sponsor for Whole Foods Market is Eat Better Art, a new series of cooking classes designed to bring parents and children together in the kitchen as they learn about good nutrition and create delicious dishes. Each child and adult pair will create seasonal dishes with the assistance of experienced teaching chefs. At the end of class, participants will be able to enjoy the delicious foods that they made. Participants will also be able to take home the recipes and the special art project they complete. More information is available at thinkplaycreate.org/eatbetterart.

The New Children’s Museum is a new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art. Serving San Diego for 30 years, the Museum opened in 1983 in La Jolla as the Children's Museum/Museo de los Niños and reopened downtown in 2008. NCM brings families together in a rich educational environment that fosters creativity — blending elements of children’s museums and art museums. NCM is a non-profit institution funded by admissions, memberships and community support. To learn more, visit thinkplaycreate.org.