Project Hope and Fairness

Did You Know...

More than 75% of chocolate consumed in the United States comes from 600,000 cocoa farms in Ivory Coast.

That U.S. consumers eat 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate annually, representing nearly half the world's supply.

60% of Ivorian children of cocoa farmers receive no education at all.

Large chocolate companies who control most of the American market are not doing enough, and by buying Fair Trade you are bypassing conventional systems of exploitation to the benefit of impoverished cocoa farmers and their villages.

Donors--President's Circle

We gratefully acknowledge the following organizations or individuals who have contributed more than $2,000.

Companies...

Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates has contributed to Kavokiva Cooperative, one of two Fair Trade Certified™ cocoa cooperatives in Côte d'Ivoire and twice to Kedesch of Galebre, Côte d'Ivoire. Promotion Plus has paid for hundreds of T-shirts and three scales as well as serving as PH&F's office. Elements CMS has contributed its web-development software. Don Maruska, Inc. has contributed to the construction of the school roof in Dawayo-Chantier and to the 2008 purchase of dryness meters and cocoa-weighing scales. Amy Cheng singlehandedly has raised enough money to purchase 200 pairs of boots to be distributed to villages in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

Individuals...

Left, Kate Montgomery. Middle, Mark Phillips. Right, Stan Thompson. All three went on the 2007 trip and with their $1,000 contributions, they built two WCs in Depa and Zereguhe. Kate and Mark have supported the education of Peter Joy Sewornoo of Ada, Ghana, who is thanks to them finishing up a masters degree in international trade at a prestigious school in Berne, Switzerland. In addition, they have contributed to the education of Padmore Cobbina of Cape Coast, Ghana, who is learning to be a air-conditioning/refrigeration specialist. And they have helped with the school fees of a young girl from Ebekawopa, one of the villages we visit. Stan died one month after the end of the trip and through his death, we were able to raise half the $4,000 necessary to put a roof on the Dawayo-Chantier school. The village has commissioned a statue of Stan to be put outside the school.

Donors--Inner Circle

We gratefully acknowledge the following organizations or individuals that have contributed $500 to $1,999

Quota International of San Luis Obispo contributed to the roof on the school of Dawayo-Chantier. Microsoft matched the donations of numerous employees who participated in Amy Cheng's campaign to raise money for boots.

Donors--Circle of Honor

We gratefully acknowledge the numerous organizations and individuals who have contributed up to $500, and we apologize for not listing them.