Page 14 - 2022 Westchester County Economic Development Guide

One Million Strong Launch1000
A Passion for Helping Others
Meet two social entrepreneurs who were empowered to make a difference in the County through the Westchester Office of Economic Development’s Launch1000 program.
BLOOM HEALTHY
Marion Henson found the catalyst for her business in Westchester County’s Launch1000 program. Now, she’s battling food insecurity
in the County one box at a time.
Having grown up volunteering at soup kitchens, pantries and food banks, Bloom Healthy Founder and CEO Marion Henson unexpectedly experienced food instability with her own family. “In 2017, my husband lost his job. We had savings but when you lose everything it can be very difficult,” says Henson, who is a resident of Mount Vernon. “The experience taught me that food insecurity has no face - it affects people of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and family sizes. I also learned that those requiring food assistance have very little
access to healthy fruits and vegetables.” That challenging experience inspired Henson, who studied education at the College of New Rochelle, to find a solution to make organic fruits and vegetables not only more affordable, but available to those in need throughout
the County.
Bloom Healthy is an organic grocery
pop-up providing affordable fruits, vegetables and herbs in or around communities with limited or no access to organic produce. “We believe everyone has the right to access healthy foods at a price they can afford,” says Henson. “Customers can buy fresh produce for their families or “Pay it Forward with
Kindness” by purchasing boxes for neighbors experiencing limited or no access or financial challenges.”
Adds Henson, “It’s a more humane way for families to get what they need in a grocery setting. When you visit the pop up, there is no difference in how people are being serviced. People who receive a Kindness Box preorder online and walk out like anyone else with a paid order. And they have access to the same quality of amazing food.”
TESTING THE CONCEPT: LAUNCH1000
In 2020, Henson joined Launch1000, an online, self-paced program by the Westchester County Office of Economic Development that teaches participants to evaluate their idea, test it with potential customers, and see if it seems likely to succeed.
“Launch1000 was a timely program for me,” relates Henson. “The initial phase is about you - aligning with your purpose and your sweet spot. Then you ask a lot of questions of potential colleagues and customers to help pressure test your idea. Then you put all the pieces together and present what you are working on. It was there that I learned about the Kiva microlending program where I raised $8,500.”
Bloom Healthy Founder Marion Henson is on a mission to provide healthy food to those in need.
Beyond microfinancing, Henson says that the program connected her with multiple mentors, advisors and other forms of assistance. “Deborah Novick, the Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Westchester County, was an excellent resource for me personally and was a great sounding board.” Henson also credits Marsha Gordon of the Business Council of Westchester and Pam Hoelzle and her team at Entrepreneur Ready as important mentors and resources. Reed Zukerman from RXR provided temporary working space for Bloom Healthy free of rent or overhead fees, which was of great assistance.
Her informal advisory panel also includes the former CEOs of Trader Joes and Greyston Bakery, as well as Angel
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
“Had it not been for Launch1000, I would not have launched my business. I didn’t see a way to do so. Before launching Bloom Healthy, I had never seen myself as a businesswoman. I just wanted to be behind the scenes. But now I feel that I can be successful.” —Marion Henson
© Courtesy of Bloom Healthy
© Courtesy of Bloom Healthy