Riverford Organic Farmers and charity partner Ripple Effect, the rural development charity working in eastern and southern Africa, have been shortlisted for Third Sector’s annual awards that recognise corporate partnerships that are truly effective in aligning charity needs with corporate values and funding.
The two organisations have been working together since 2010, with Riverford’s customers and co-owners committing nearly £1,000,000 over the following 12 years. They have funded four projects supporting sustainable farming in Uganda and Ethiopia, reaching more than 20,000 people striving against poverty and food insecurity.
"We are delighted to have our strategic partnership with Riverford recognised in this way," says Victoria Barnes, who leads Ripple Effect’s Partnerships and Philanthropy team.
"Riverford were hugely supportive of our rebranding from Send a Cow to Ripple Effect last year. They have also worked with us to co-develop our first ever Responsible Carbon community fruit-tree planting project with us in Wolayita, Ethiopia. Forty-four thousand community-owned avocado and apple trees will provide farming families with essential nutrition and income, while capturing a projected 27,000 tonnes of greenhouse gasses, helping Riverford to offset the remaining carbon emissions they have been unable to eliminate from their daily operations."
Equally powerful, says Victoria Barnes, has been the ripple effect of Riverford’s support, especially by sharing news to their customer network via Guy Singh-Watson’s weekly veg box newsletter.
Over 1,500 Riverford customers donated to Ripple Effect’s emergency appeal this year. Riverford customers also made introductions to two new corporate partners, and to a national newspaper that has donated a free page of advertising.
Winners of this charity partnership award will be announced on Friday 22 September. For further information, interviews and images please contact Jen.Stevenson@rippleeffect.org or call 07985 055 828.
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