Joaniesgoodies Links with Health Organizations to Help Women

Schroon Lake, NY, February 06, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Joaniesgoodies, a new social enterprise company, is launching a unique website dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence and to promote good health. The company’s founder, Joanie Cunningham, has spent the last two years developing a heart healthy, low calorie, reduced fat, all natural vitamin packed bakery product line filled with fruits and nuts that contain antioxidants and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Joanie believes there is an inextricable link between the rise of violence against women and obesity. “Let’s face it, you don’t see overweight women in the magazines, on celebrity TV shows, or modeling the latest swimsuits in “Sports Illustrated”. The threat of violence for overweight women and children combined with the high health risk due to overeating is like a raging storm, ready to destroy anyone who gets in its path. I just have to do whatever I can do to calm that storm.” Joanie commented.

Joanie, a resident of Schroon Lake NY; a picturesque Adirondack summer resort community, operates a quaint café, bakery, and antique and gift shop from a 19th Century building her family restored in 2004. In 2003, her husband went to prison, sentenced to 17-1/2 to 35 years for allegedly stealing $64,000 from a former business partner. All alone and miserable after losing her husband of 31 years, she decided she would use her time to try to do something good. Simultaneously, a friend, who was a domestic violence victim, needed a place to stay. This friend moved in and opened up Joanies’ eyes to the epidemic of violence towards those who can’t defend themselves. “My husband also shared with me his experience in prison. I was equally appalled by the total disregard for women and children displayed by many who go to prison.” Joanie stated.

Joanie has struggled with weight gain her whole entire life. Looking back, she realized that her weight gains occurred when there was a great deal of stress in her life. “I think all of us, particularly women, look to food especially sweets to soothe us. I know that in the last three years I have,” Joanie exclaimed. “I can imagine that women who are suffering from physical, emotional, or sexual violence would turn to a goodie to get through their miserable day, further compounding their problems. It seems our society's fixation that women must be perfect is causing a great deal of the problems. The media is constantly reminding us of what we are supposed to look like. We are told we need to diet or each part of our body must be dissected or medically altered to meet our societies standards for perfection. Most of us can’t avoid it. I realize I am very fortunate, my husband has always told me I love you just as you are.”

Most commercial goodies are filled with chemicals, high fructose corn syrup and are extremely high in saturated fats, the number one cause of cardiovascular disease. A couple of years ago Joanie began experimenting in her bakery. She had always loved to bake. When she was four years old, standing on a chair, baking cookies with her grandmother, she fell in love with baking. Her mom, a precise measurer, would get annoyed that Joanies cakes and pies would be perfect and she hadn’t measured a thing. She would just throw in a little of this and a little of that and just by taste or feel, her goodies came out right.

Joanies’ experimentation has shown her that by using natural ingredients like unbleached flour fresh berries, walnuts, and dark chocolate, one can significantly reduce the bad things in sweets while maintaining the flavor and texture. Over the past couple of years she made significant progress with her muffins and cakes. “I still have a way to go on my cookies, brownies, and other goodies. My ultimate goal is to reduce the calories and saturated fats by more than 50% and put as much nutritional Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants into the product as possible and still remain natural. It is a daunting task, but I enjoy the challenge.” Joanie stated.

Last year Joaniesgoodies linked up with The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the leading advocate for domestic violence victims. Joaniesgoodies donates 10% of every sale of bakery and gift baskets to the organization. Joanie commented, “The NCADV does important work, and any way that I can help, I will.”

This year, with the website joaniesgoodies.com ready to go, the company is also contributing another 10% of any of its gift basket sales to the American Heart Association. “In my opinion, no other organization does more to promote good health”, Joanie continued.

The company has chosen Feb 1 to launch its website, the same day the American Heart Association sponsors its Go Red For Women Day, to promote awareness of women’s heart disease. “I can’t think of a better day to start our have a heart campaign showcasing our all natural reduced fat low calorie goodies. I look forward to raising a lot of money for both organizations, which I think, will help those that are most vulnerable.” Joanie concluded.

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