New Rochelle's Bloom Healthy Wins $25K Award From Tito's Vodka

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A unique New Rochelle business, that has put fresh organic foods in reach of everyone, no matter how much they earn, was among ten small businesses nationwide honored by Tito's.

Bloom Healthy, owned by Marion Henson, announced over the weekend that it was one of just a handful of U.S. businesses selected to receive a $25,000 grant from Tito's Handmade Vodka to support the vision of the well-known distillery with humble roots.

Henson's business, which brings farm fresh organic foods directly to customers regardless of their ability to pay, opened to great success in New Rochelle last year. The Mount Vernon native expressed a vision from the beginning to make the staples of a nutritious diet available to upscale and low income customers alike.

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At Bloom Healthy, customers can purchase boxes of fresh produce for themselves or pay it forward and buy a box for someone in need. On the shop's first day, there were already 40 online orders with half of them being pay it forward boxes.

"I have a real love of the community," Henson said at the time of the store's opening. "I know there are different groups of people here in New Rochelle, from those who are food insecure and those who are not. I wanted to help wherever I could."

Henson chose New Rochelle to start her business because she is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle and connected with the neighborhoods in the city. Her fledgling business has since attracted admirers from far beyond the city limits, and has now received nationwide recognition.

After starting in a 998-square-foot shack outside of Austin 25 years ago, with a pot rigged from a few spare parts, Tito's Handmade Vodka is now among the most recognized vodka brands in the world.

"We’ve grown into a brand not only known for our award-winning product sold at a fair price, but also for doing good; from rescuing dogs, to helping our environment, to supporting entrepreneurs who have big dreams," the Texas-based company said, announcing the inaugural award winners. "This year, in honor of our 25th anniversary, we’re giving back to small business owners who are following their passions and making an impact in their communities – just like Tito did, and continues to do, alongside the wider Tito’s Handmade Vodka team."

The "Love, Tito’s Small Business Grant Program" was launched through the company's philanthropic "Love, Tito’s" initiative.

The goal behind the brand-new program is "to offer entrepreneurs one less obstacle to overcome and one more opportunity to succeed." The program will support 10 small business owners who "best demonstrate the company values of grit, love, kindness, meaning, and purpose."

By teaming up with Accion Opportunity Fund, Tito's $25,000 grants will help fuel each business’s vision for growth. Accion is a non-profit financial support system that provides small business owners with access to capital, networks and coaching in order to advance racial, gender and economic justice for all.

The inaugural 10 recipients nationwide are:

• Bloom Healthy
• Slow Rise Bakehouse
• TÁPI Story
• Full Battle Rattle Deli
• Remark Glass
• Culinary Concepts AB
• Essentially Charleston
• Randall's Sandals
• Shady Grove Road Blueberry Patch
• Drinkmoana