Reprinted from the Pioneer Press Newspaper

August 17, 2000

Store opening will benefit foundation

Whole Foods Market will celebrate the opening of its new store in Deerfield by sponsoring a "5 Percent Day" to benefit the Rory David Deutsch Foundation. The Deerfield Whole Foods Market, Aug. 31, will donate 5 percent of its total sales to this local Chicago based foundation that supports advances in pediatric brain tumor research. The store officially opens Wednesday.

When seven-year old Rory Deutsch died of an inoperable brain stem tumor in July 1998, Rory's family and friends established The Rory David Deutsch Foundation as a living tribute to his spirit. Since then the Foundation has raised more than $1 million for pediatric brain tumor research.

The foundation has been inspired by the many ways children have been involved in their fund-raising efforts, and is fostering the philosophy of kids making a difference by involving children in all of their campaigns.

The Deerfield Whole Foods Market participation in this fund-raising effort reinforces Whole Foods Market's corporate policy of individual stores supporting their local community in making a difference. All stores with the Whole Foods Market chain donate at least 5 percent of store profits to local charities and compensate employees for 20 hours of community service work yearly.

Whole Foods Market owns and operates the nation's largest chain of natural and organic food supermarkets, with more than one hundred stores nationwide. Whole Foods Market is a publicly traded company under the symbol WFMI. Visit their web site at www.wholefoods.com.