Background

“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.”

Albert Einstein

The greatest advances in human history, in all realms of endeavor (science, technology, philosophy, arts…), with the most significant benefits to individual and societal well being, have come through innovative ideas and individual initiative - expressions of the entrepreneurial spirit.

There is a growing recognition of the power of ideas catalyzed into action by entrepreneurs to be a powerful force for positive social change, elevating the conditions of life for humanity. Businesses and social enterprises promote peace via:

• Creating jobs
• Investing in infrastructure, education, and training
• Developing new technologies to address basic human needs – clean water, healthy food, durable housing, affordable energy and transportation; and to increase productivity and efficiency
• Cultivating financial wealth and security for individuals and communities
• Providing a broad range of for-profit and non-profit social service, including sustenance; shelter; health care; education; physical, mental and spiritual “fitness” and many others.

In addition to the inherent service business provide to society, through the products and services they provide, the jobs they create, and other by-products of the entrepreneurial process, there is a growing global movement of purposefully applying the skills and resources of business to address social issues. Corporate Social Responsibility, cause-related marketing, Sustainability initiatives, and the explosion of social entrepreneurship are testament to this movement.

"At Whole Foods, we measure our success by how much value we can create for all six of our most important stakeholders: Customers, team members (employees), investors, vendors, communities, and the environment. During the last 12 months we had sales of more than $4.7 billion, net profits of more than  $140 million, and a market capitalization over $9 billion.”

- John Mackey, co-founder and CEO, Whole Foods Markets