“You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

re: “You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

dancingtrees — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:28:26 GMT

I was so sickened when I read this article. I did some digging and got a copy of the court documents. This is true. How can Starbucks even consider backing a convicted sex offender, verses a minor child?

Starbucks Paying for Legal Defense of Former Barista, Admitted Statutory Rapist

blogs.ocweekly.com/.../starbucks-paying-for-defense-o

By Gustavo Arellano

Wednesday, Aug. 19 2009 @ 6:34AM

Better stop buying your Frappuccinos and whatever other drinks Starbucks brews--your hard-earned cash just might be going to the legal defense of a former barista criminally convicted of statutory rape.

In a case currently winding through U.S. federal court in SanTana, a former Starbucks worker is suing the company and one Timothy Horton for civil damages regarding Horton's admitted statutory raping of the victim when she was 16 and working at an Irvine Starbucks (guess which one!) and he was 27 and her supervisor. Horton already served time for the crime, having pled guilty earlier this year in Orange County Superior Court for unlawful sex with a minor. Police reports and depositions have already established Horton's superiors suspected his perversion, going so far as to transfer the victim to another Starbucks after the victim's mother complained about Horton yet never bothered to report him to law enforcement.

Nevertheless, Starbucks is standing by a man they fired. In an August 16 sworn declaration filed in court by plaintiff lawyer Vince Finaldi (part of Manly & Stewart, the law firm best known for showing again and again how the Catholic Diocese of Orange protected pedo-priests) stated that Horton's lawyer, Eric Yuhl, admitted during a conference between the two sides that Starbucks hired him to defend Horton and is paying all legal fees. And Horton admitted to as much in a June 30 deposition; when Finaldi asked how he found Yuhl, Horton replied, "Eric was given to me by--referred" by Starbucks. "What you're going to have to do since there's--for lack of a better legal word, goofy stuff, give me the chance to object," Yuhl instructed his client.

Wow. Since when did Orange Bishop Tod D. Brown start whipping up lattes? Much more on this case in the coming days...

re: “You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

ladybugteacher — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:01:31 GMT

I live in a town that has live horse racing from Presidents' Day through Easter. The racing season brings many people who travel throughout the year following the racing circuit. Many of them do not speak English. Each Thursday night, during racing season, I volunteered my time, alongside friends of mine from church, to teach English to the men and women who work as stall cleaners, groomers, and hotwalkers. This was a very rewarding experience. Thanks to Starbucks for giving everyone a chance to read about the good that other Starbucks fans are contributing to our world!

re: “You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:19:16 GMT

I run a licenced store and my barista and I feel like we are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to community involvement. We do alot of things for our environment, we volunteer at different places, we take donations for different charity events from our friends and family but starbucks does not consider us "one of them." Why if we work at Starbucks, we are just as pasonate with our customer service, we serve all of the same fantastic drinks, and are just as passionate with training, why does my baristas not get the same perks from starbucks as the baristas a few towns down. Really the only difference is we pay royalties to starbucks, as opposed to being owned by starbucks, but our sales are much higher than any of the stores (most probably) in the whole state. I do belive that makes us just the same "Starbucks Barista".

re: “You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

LeeAnnJackson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:58:19 GMT

Kids and volunteering just go together . . . don't believe me, just kneel down to a child's level, look them in the eyes and listen intently to the wonderful stories they have to tell! Children take particular delight in someone else's mommy (or daddy!) taking an interest in them--in who they are. By simply donating 2 hours of my time weekly at my local church volunteering with 5 and 6 year-olds in the AWANA program, I'm humbled to discover what a difference I can make in a little child's life--in their self-esteem and consequently, in mine . . . and isn't making a difference what it's all about? =)

re: “You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

Keeplaffin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:29:37 GMT

I've agreed to be the Speaking Engagement Coordinator for Western Farm Workers Association. The ogranization is 100% volunteer run and depends on donations to address critical issues facing farm workers in the Central Valley agricultural area. Through contact with local community organizations, we acquire medical, legal and family care assistance for our members. Recently, we successfully advocated for the continuance of a county-managed health care clinic for low-income workers.

re: “You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

guinness1227 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:39:50 GMT

This past March I decided to leave my unsatisfying, miserable job for Africa for 6 weeks to volunteer. I stayed in Tanzania and taught English & Math to 5 & 6 year olds. It was quite a challenge and I was totally out of my element. But it was the most wonderful and fulfilling experience of my life. The people were so welcoming and friendly. They were willing to share what little they had with anyone-family, neighbors, even strangers. They have such a sense of community and make any foreigner feel like a local. I returned with those values & outlook and really learned to put things in perspective.

re: “You In?" Turn Your Pledges Into Action

marbella — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:06:13 GMT

April 2009, 300 church community members pledged to spend the day volunteering with organizations across Chicago. We divided into teams and were sent out to schools, senior residences, child care centers, facility for developmentally disabled adults, public parks. We cleaned, painted, planted, organized, and worked directly with the people we were serving. At the end of the day of hard work, we gathered back and told stories of who we met and the difference we made at each work site and in the lives of the people we served.