"Community involvement is an essential part of ACE's philosophy", says co-owner Linda Haynes. "Our Community Giving Program focuses on food and nutrition programs that assist low-income members of the community, financing culinary scholarships, and supporting organic farming initiatives", Ms. Haynes explains.

Grants were also provided to the George Brown Chef School, the Stratford Chefs School, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Culinary School, and the Ecological Farmers' Association of Ontario. In total, ACE Bakery has provided grants for 24 organizations in Ontario, New York State and the Midwest, U.S.A. The grants are for programs that support ACE's core philosophies, with a majority of funds donated to community kitchen programs. "It's a wonderful way to give back to the community that supports ACE Bakery", says Linda.

Linda Haynes and Martin Connell, co-owners of ACE Bakery, co-founded the Calmeadow organization in 1983. After travelling extensively in the developing world, Linda and Martin recognized the tremendous economic potential of enabling people worldwide to strengthen their small-scale enterprises through small loans. Over the past 20 years, Calmeadow has retained its commitment to encourage sustainable and commercially viable micro-financial institutions in developing countries. When ACE Bakery began 11 years ago, the company gave a percentage of its pre-tax profits to Calmeadow, an organization that is now self-sufficient. Linda and Martin's strong commitment to social and economic equity has helped make Calmeadow a world leader in providing access to financial services for the poor.

Continuing their commitment to philanthropy and the community, five percent of ACE's pre-tax profits is donated to charitable organizations in the principal areas where ACE breads are sold. One of North America's leading artisan bakeries, ACE Bakery's famous baguettes and artisan breads are available at hundreds of restaurants, hotels, caterers, grocery and gourmet food shops in Ontario, Quebec, New York State, and the Midwest.

ACE Bakery opened in 1993 as an artisan bakery creating hand-made, European-style rustic breads. The gentle shaping of each loaf, long fermentation periods and a stone deck oven all work to create exceptionally flavourful products with a light airy texture and crisp golden crust. The breads contain no preservatives and are made with the best all-natural ingredients.

Supporting the community in so many ways. ACE Bakery's 2005 Community Giving Program is supporting the following community organizations:

TORONTO: The Stop Community Food Centre: Community Kitchen program Agincourt Community Services: Cooking Healthy Together program Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre: Community Kitchen program FoodShare Toronto: Cooking Out of the Box program Hinks-Dellcrest: Growth Together Community Kitchen program St. Christopher House: The Meeting Place Community Kitchen program Fred Victor Centre: Food Fryday Community Kitchen program

OTTAWA: Coalition of Community Houses: Debra Dynes Family House Causeway Work Centre: Community Kitchen program Young/Single Parent Support Network: Buns in the Oven Community Kitchen program Ottawa Food Security Council: Community Kitchen program

LONDON: London Community Resource Centre: Community Kitchen program The Working Centre (Kitchener): Community Bake Oven

HAMILTON/NIAGARA: Children's Aid Society of Hamilton: Community Kitchen program North Hamilton Community Health Centre: Community Kitchen program

GRAND RAPIDS: Spectrum Health: HeartReach Community Kitchen program

BUFFALO: Massachusetts Avenue Project: Community Kitchen program

ROCHESTER: Politics of Food: Community Kitchen program for students

CLEVELAND: North Union Farmers' Market: Cooking Under the Tent program

DETROIT: Capuchin Soup Kitchen: Growing Healthy Kids Community Kitchen

Other: Ecological Farmers' Association of Ontario (organic initiatives) Stratford Chefs School (scholarship) George Brown Chef School (scholarship) Niagara-on-the-Lake Culinary School (scholarship)

For more information, contact Samantha Mesrobian, 416/241-3600 ext 305, bread@acebakery.com.


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