Press Releases

TransFair USA Receives Fast Company/Monitor Group’s 2005 Social Capitalist Award

Fair Trade Certification Leader Recognized
for Helping Farmers in Developing Countries Receive Livable Wages

Oakland, CA and New York, NY, December 16, 2004 – TransFair USA, the nation’s only independent, third party certifier of Fair Trade products, today was named a Social Capitalist Award winner by Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group. TransFair is one of 25 organizations in the country identified for using creativity, business smarts, and hard work to invent a brighter future.

The Fast Company/Monitor Social Capitalist Awards program measures a non-profit group’s innovation and social impact, as well as the viability and sustainability of its business model. TransFair, commended for introducing a paradigm shift that enables globalization to work for poor farmers in developing countries by way of its Fair Trade certification program, receives this award during a period of explosive growth. Since 1999, TransFair USA has certified over 60 million pounds of coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and grapes - channeling more than $55 million in above-market pricing and additional income to farmers and farmworkers throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Fair Trade is increasingly recognized as the Gold Standard of social and environmental certification, and TransFair’s pioneering approach is rapidly mainstreaming Fair Trade Certified™ products throughout the US.

“The Social Capitalist Award winners represent a global movement of entrepreneurs who’ve chosen to apply their skills to the common good,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief John Byrne.  “In the meantime, they’re redefining what it means to be a ‘successful business,’ and are proving, without question, that the goals of altruism can jibe with the means of capitalism.” 

How the Winners Were Chosen
Fast Company, in partnership with the Monitor Group, chose the second annual Social Capitalist Award winners from a pool of 118 organizations, half of them nominated by a panel of prominent funders, academics and other experts, and the rest self-nominated. Each participating organization submitted to a rigorous screening process requiring financial records, business plans, and online surveys. Groups were graded in five distinct categories: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Social Impact, Aspiration and Sustainability. Final grades included adjustments based on structured telephone interviews with each group's executive director and with independent experts qualified to speak about each organization. To learn more about the Fast Company/Monitor Social Capitalist Awards, or to donate money to one of the award winners, visit www.fastcompany.com/social.

“Today, sales of Fair Trade Certified products are growing faster than ever,” said Paul Rice, CEO and Founder of TransFair USA.  “Imports of Fair Trade Certified coffee alone rose by an astonishing 91% in 2003, indicating rapid growth in consumer awareness and demand for sustainable products.  TransFair USA currently licenses almost 400 US companies to sell Fair Trade products in over 26,000 retail locations nationwide, including supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, and specialty food stores. This award is for all of the businesses and consumers who work to make the Fair Trade model successful.”

Fast Company/Monitor’s2005 Social Capitalist Award Winners, in alphabetical order:

*Denotes Repeat Winner

• Acción International*, Boston, MA: Pioneered use of small loans to seed tiny businesses and lifts families out of poverty.
  
  
• ApproTEC, San Francisco, CA: Produces easy-to-use tools for developing-world farmers to help them increase earnings ten-fold.
  
  
• Aspire Public Schools*, Redwood City, CA: Charter school management group building a system to transform American education.
  
  
• City Year*, Boston, MA: Recruits diverse young people to devote a year to community service in exchange for an educational stipend.
  
  
• College Summit*, Washington, DC: Works with schools and colleges to help low-income students go on to higher education.
  
  
• Earn, San Francisco, CA: Provides financial counseling and matching funds to help poor people open savings accounts.
  
  
• Endeavor Global, New York, NY: Global venture catalyst scouts out entrepreneurs in emerging economies.
  
  
• First Book*, Washington, DC: Enables disadvantaged children to own their first book.
  
  
• Grameen Foundation USA, Washington, DC: Provides microlending institutions with financial and technical resources to increase efficiency and expand outreach to the poor.
  
  
• Housing Partnership Network, Boston, MA: An ambitious group of 80 nonprofit housing groups that decided to pool skills, money, and policy influence.
  
  
• Jumpstart, Boston*, MA: Pairs college students with 3-to-5 year-olds who need help with reading and social skills.
  
  
• New Leaders for New Schools*, New York, NY: Recruits would-be principals to undergo extensive leadership training.
  
  
• Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)*, Seattle, WA: Invents medical tools that save lives in developing nations.
  
  
• Rare, Arlington, VA: Leader of radio-based environmental advocacy in developing nations.
  
  
• Room to Read*, San Francisco, CA: Promotes literacy and education in Asia by providing scholarships and building schools and libraries.
  
  
• Rubicon Programs Inc.*, Richmond, CA: Provides livable wage employment and job training to the homeless and mentally ill.
  
  
• SEED Foundation, New York, NY: Builds public boarding schools in urban areas.
  
  
• Scojo Foundation, New York, NY: Makes affordable eyewear available to the 1.6 billion people whose decline in eyesight as they age prevents them from reading and sometimes costs them work.
  
  
• Social Venture Partners, Seattle, WA: Introduces philanthropic newcomers to the world of civic engagement.
  
  
• Springboard Forward, Mountain View, CA: Provides on-the-job coaching to low-wage workers to help them out of the poverty cycle.
  
  
• TransFair USA, Oakland, CA: Allows farmers in developing countries to sell crops for a livable wage by giving them direct market access.
  
  
• Vera Institute of Justice, New York, NY: Works toward justice by incubating programs to serve those entangled in the justice system.
  
  
• Verité, Amherst, MA: Conducts factory audits for major corporations to ensure quality working conditions for foreign workers.
  
  
• Witness*, New York, NY: Founded by musician Peter Gabriel, Witness gives a voice to victims by obtaining and archiving videotapes of human-rights transgressions.
  
  
• Year Up, Boston, MA: Provides job training for low-income, high-school educated 18-to-24 year olds.
  
  

About TransFair USA
TransFair USA, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, is the sole Fair Trade certification organization in the U.S. Its rigorous audit system, which tracks products from farm to market, verifies industry and farmer compliance with Fair Trade criteria. TransFair authorizes companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet this high standard. TransFair USA is part of a global certification network with a 15-year history of success in over 60 countries. In addition to coffee, TransFair also certifies Fair Trade tea, chocolate, bananas and other fresh fruit. To learn more, visit: www.transfairusa.org.

About Monitor Group
Monitor Group, a family of strategy, advisory, and merchant banking firms linked by shared knowledge, skills, and experience—is dedicated to enhancing both the competitiveness of its clients and the practical realization of their animating moral purpose.

Contact:
Nicole Chettero
Public Relations Associate
TransFair USA
1611 Telegraph Ave. #900
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 663-5260 x357
nchettero@transfairusa.org

Contact:
Diane Stefani 212.255.8455 ext. 27 or
Ryan Clancy 212.255.8455 ext.22

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