Cottonwood Heights, UT – Whole Foods Market has teamed up with Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center to help raise funds to be utilized for avalanche education along the Wasatch Front. Each quarter, Whole Foods Market stores hold 5% Community Giving Days, in which 5% of the day’s net sales are donated to a chosen non-profit. This quarter, the Whole Foods Market at 6930 S. Highland Drive in Cottonwood Heights is teaming up with Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center.nFriends of the Utah Avalanche Center is a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation organized to support and contribute to the avalanche education and forecasting activities provided by the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center. Avalanches are the number one killer among natural events in Utah. Education and awareness has been shown to be by far the most effective means of reducing avalanche accidents. The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center have formed a unique public/non-profit collaboration with the Forest Service in Utah to provide avalanche forecasting, education and awareness in Utah.

Whole Foods Market Highland Drive encourages customers to shop today, Jan. 13. This is the day that 5% net sales will be donated to Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. Representatives of FUAC will be available in-store to answer any questions. At 7:00 p.m., there will be a “Know Before You Go” presentation. This free 50 minute program will introduce you and your kids to the tools you need to stay alive in avalanche terrain and is open to all.

Whole Foods Market Highland Drive sees this as a win-win opportunity. “We have a lot of ski and snowboard traffic in our store this time of year. This is the perfect opportunity for those customers to learn more about avalanche safety,” says Sondra Stephens, Whole Foods Marketing Specialist.

This location also sells discount lift tickets to Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird resorts and wants to encourage avalanche awareness whenever possible.