Good Karma: Great Granola

Granola for Good got its start through the encouragement and support of people and organizations who wanted to help just for the sake of it. There are too many to name, but here are some who have been instrumental.


Inspiration Corporation: Granola for Good Kitchen Partners and So Much More

           

Beginning with my first meeting with Jeff Adams, Operations Manager at The Living Room Cafe, the Inspiration Corporation has been the key ingredient for bringing Granola for Good to market. Beyond providing a kitchen home, Inspiration Corporation has been a true partner by offering advice, encouragement and inspiration. A percentage of Granola for Good net proceeds will benefit Inspiration Corporation and the incredible work they do.

Please visit their website at Inspiration Corporation to learn more about how they help people affected by homelessness and poverty improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency.


Rachel Durchslag: Official Granola for Good Muse



Over a Thai lunch, it was Rachel who helped crystallize my ideas and goals, and came up with the name Granola for Good, for which I am forever grateful.

Rachel is not only a great friend, but has accomplished great things. In 2005 she founded the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, a local nonprofit that works to stop sexual exploitation in Chicago and beyond. You can learn more about CAASE and the work they do by visiting their website: CAASE.


Catherine Lange: Granola for Good Designer



For a few bags of granola, Catherine offered to help me design the label for my new product. Little did I realize how much more she would contribute to the process – more than a pretty picture, Catherine counseled me on many things ranging from creative production options to how best to communicate with my future customers

Catherine Lange is a graphic designer and photographer who primarily works with nonprofit groups. She lives in a small town in central Wisconsin but has many Chicago clients. She also is a painter, teaches Tai Chi, and is a Reiki Master Teacher. You can find her at Catherine Lange Communications Cathy Lange.


Hyde Park Produce: Supplier Extraordinaire



As they say, you can’t have a mission without a margin, and the good people at Hyde Park Produce made that possible. While shopping one day, co-owner Ron Thomas offered to use his wholesale network to get the ingredients needed to ensure the best quality at a price customers could afford. He now carries Granola for Good at his store – the first ever to do so.

Hyde Park Produce is a family run, neighborhood grocery store that cares about its community. Originally opened in 1996 by “Yoyo” Damico and his son Larry, HPP recently expanded to a larger store that carries a large selection of local and imported goods. You can visit them at 1226 E 53rd Street in Chicago or check out their website at Hyde Park Produce.


Carlos Javier Ortiz: Granola for Good Portraitist



The beautiful photographs you see on this site were taken by photojournalist Carlos Javier Ortiz. You would be more likely to find him out in the community or a major news event than in the kitchen. But Carlos wanted to help get the word about Granola for Good, and so he made an exception. I’m glad he did.

Carlos lives in Chicago and his work has appeared in Newsweek, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Times of London, among other major publications. Currently, he is working on a cross-cultural youth violence project, which documents adolescents in Chicago and Guatemala. Among other honors, this year, Carlos received the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights' Domestic Photography Award Carlos Javier.


Tina Sacks: Granola for Good’s First Love



There’s a first time for everything and Tina was Granola for Good’s first customer. Tina is a sporty, doctoral student foodie who first served Granola for Good at a post-marathon brunch. She’s also a good friend and G4G advocate. Thanks, Tina!