My head grew dizzy as we walked the aisles of the Fancy Food Show a few weeks ago.  Samples of chocolate were followed by samples of cheese…and then maybe some hot sauce, chips and beer.  There were foods in all shapes and colors, along with whiz-bang marketing campaigns intended to catch the eye and draw us in for a taste or a marketing spiel.   Maybe that’s why the understated and tasteful Project 7 booth caught my eye.

This is one of the most generous companies I have ever seen.  Project 7 donates 50% of the profits for each of their products to seven areas of critical need in the world:  Build the Future, Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Help those in Need, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless and Save the Earth.    Each of their products (gum, mints and water) are labeled with one of these causes – so if you purchase a (really cool test-tube) package of mints that say “Save the Planet,” that’s the cause where 1/2 of the profits will go. Each year, consumers get to vote on which organization receives funding from Project 7.  So the customers have awesome power here – they can pick which organizations to support.  Twice.  They get to vote online for who receives the money and vote with their shopping dollar, every time they choose a product.