SAN DIEGO (Dec. 8, 2016) – The GROW Fund, a nonprofit program developed by Organics Unlimited, announces the results of donations provided in 2016 for an Ecuador clean water program. GROW by Organics Unlimited awarded a grant to Fundación Niñez Internacional (Children International Foundation) to fund a five-month Safe Water Project that improved the health of 450 families.

The Children International Guayaquil Agency focused their efforts on families living in Duran, a region with a population of 236,000 and an extraordinary 67.8% poverty rate. Research showed over two-thirds of families who received aid from the organization did not follow proper safety measures for the storage and use of water for cooking and drinking. The GROW grant funded workshops for families on safe water practices, methods of water disinfection, conservation of water quality, prevention of water-related diseases and proper home hygiene practices. After the program, Children International conducted home visits to assess the results of the Clean Water Project.

“I learned how to disinfect water with chlorine and received a little dropper to measure the correct dosage of chlorine,” said Vilma Sornoza, a mother who was a beneficiary of the Clean Water Project. “Before, my son was frequently ill, but now his health has improved. I always want the best for my son, and this program allows me to give him that.”

GROW by Organics Unlimited has supported the Safe Water Project with grants since 2013. GROW was the sole funder of the 2016 Safe Water Project for the town of Duran.

“Some of my favorite moments are when I learn of the results of our grants,” said Mayra Velazquez de León, president of Organics Unlimited and GROW. “It shows how our customers’ banana purchases create change and provide a better life for children and families living in the low-income areas where bananas grow.”

Over the past decade, through retailer and distributor support, GROW organic banana purchases have raised over $2 million in aid for communities near Organics Unlimited banana farms in Mexico and Ecuador. A percentage derived from the purchase of each box of GROW organic bananas is earmarked for the GROW Fund.

About Organics Unlimited

Organics Unlimited is a San Diego-based distributor of organic tropical fruit from Mexico and South America, providing its traditional label as well as the GROW label. Its fruits are USDA certified organic for the U.S. and Canada through Organic Certifiers. For more information on Organics Unlimited and GROW, visit OrganicsUnlimited.com, or call 619.710.0658. Check out the latest blog post from Organics Unlimited, or find Organics Unlimited on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

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Media Contact: Hannah Martine
hannahm@osterads.com
619.906.5540 ext. 307