Many of you have commented on the “drink of the month and giving to charity” idea. We’re so excited about your enthusiasm and are putting this idea “Under Review”. I’ll keep you updated on the status of this one.
In the past we have offered regional beverage promotions with a give-back component. Two examples that were particularly well received included the Starlight Starbright Children’s foundation and Jumpstart Leprechaun Latte program. In each case, we made a donation based on the number of drinks sold in a particular time. This year, we’re doing an Earth Day (April 22 ) promotion at all Starbucks stores in the US and Canada. If you use your Starbucks Card to pay for any purchase (whether it is a pound of coffee, a reusable coffee mug, or a double tall Caramel Macchiato) we’ll donate a nickel to Conservation International. (Think about all of our customers across the US and Canada, and what an impact this can make!) The donation will go towards promoting a more stable climate by planting trees in Chiapas, Mexico. For more information about CI, go to www.conservation.org.
Everyday your Starbucks purchases are making a difference. Most of our coffee purchasing contracts include a premium to help fund social projects at origin, so for farmers the more coffee Starbucks buys, the more benefit they receive. Some other components of our integrated coffee buying approach include paying the premium prices that high-quality coffee commands and providing access to affordable credit for coffee farmers.
We all want to feel like we’re helping to make a difference in the world and our communities and we’ll continue to look for ways for all of us to give back together. So stay tuned for more news on your “drink of the month and giving to charity” idea.