By Noah Rawitz

After becoming an official Metropolis sponsor October, 2010, Whole Foods Market has played an active role in supporting the theatre’s mission to provide quality entertainment to the Chicagoland area.

Most notably, Metropolis received a check from Whole Foods Market for $2060.10 on May 17, 2011. The money was made possible by one of Whole Foods Market’s “5% Days,” in which the grocery store sets aside 5% of its receipt totals for one day to donate to a local non-profit organization of its choosing.

“We were very fortunate this year to get one of the highest amounts they’ve ever had,” Neil Scheufler, Metropolis’ Special Events Manager, said.

In addition to its financial generosity, George Economos, Whole Foods’ Marketing and Community Outreach Specialist, found other ways to assist its neighboring theatre. Since becoming a sponsor, Whole Foods Market has sold discounted produce to Metropolis for different artists’ green rooms, raffled off two donated tickets to its customers to help raise community awareness of Metropolis’ performances and posted a link to buy show tickets in its newsletters.

“One of our core values is that we care about our community and our environment,” Economos said. “With art and music programs being eliminated or reduced in local schools, we find being able to support Metropolis helps us to support the kids and adults in our community.”

Metropolis is very excited about its new partnership with Whole Foods Market, Executive Director Jim Jarvis said.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have as wonderful a partner as Whole Foods,” Jarvis said. “They’ve been a huge supporter of not just our work on stage but also what we do with the kids and our community. They’re one of those organization s that really cares about giving back to the community they serve. We look forward to a long relationship with them.”