Contact:
Amy Hollrah
Endangered Species Chocolate
317.216.2157 Ext. 157
ahollrah@chocolatebar.com

Endangered Species Chocolate announces 2009 partners

INDIANAPOLIS – Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) donates 10% of net profits to help support species, habitat and humanity. In 2009, ESC will partner with African Wildlife Foundation and Ocean Conservancy.

ESC has a rigorous process in which partners are selected based on their aggressive and clear mission to help species, habitat and/or humanity. All 34 applicants for the 2009 partnership were ranked based on several qualities, including scope and quality programming.

The African Wildlife Foundation, together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever. AWF believes that protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild landscapes is the key to the future prosperity of Africa and its people. The grant will be used to advance AWF’s Species Science Team and their work to protect endangered wildlife such as lion, bonobo, Grevy’s zebra and other magnificent species. www.awf.org

Ocean Conservancy promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life. Through research, education, and science-based advocacy, Ocean Conservancy informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act on behalf of the oceans. The grant will be used to fund two projects: International Coastal Cleanup and Protecting Marine Wildlife from Human Impacts. www.oceanconservancy.org

“Our selection process is designed to be robust and we engage in a very sequential procedure.” ESC takes in many applications and based on strict criteria, the number is brought down to six candidates. Then all staff at ESC is given the opportunity to review the applicants and vote on the ones they support. The top candidates become the new slate of 10% partners. “This is an important process for us. We want to be sure we are honoring our covenant with our consumer, thus a diligent job in selecting 10% partners that are truly engaged in making a difference on the planet,” says Zink.

ESC is also in the process of forming a foundation that will expand their reach on-the-ground in cacao farming communities and with nonprofit partners like AWF and Ocean Conservancy. The foundation will formally launch in early 2009.

In addition to donating 10-percent of net profits to conservation-minded nonprofits, ESC only uses cacao grown under the natural canopy of the forest, another way to protect the environment and the species living there. Once the cacao is harvested it is ethically traded, ensuring humane working conditions and a fair price for the farmers and their communities. These efforts are a few among many green business practices that ESC employs to help support species recovery, conservation of habitats and honoring of human life.

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About Endangered Species Chocolate
Indianapolis-based Endangered Species Chocolate is fully committed to providing premium, all-natural ethically traded, naturally shade-grown, and kosher products, as well as products that are certified vegan and organic. To honor its core value – Reverence for Life – ESC confirms that all beans used in its products are purchased from small, family-owned properties where the income benefits the community. The company also donates 10-percent of net profits to help support species, habitat and humanity. The number one best selling brand of natural and organic chocolate in the natural food category, ESC offers more than 30 products..

For more information, please visit www.chocolatebar.com.