Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced the results of its Vote, Give, Grow in-store donation program. Hike for KaTREEna, a non-profit organization whose aim is to replant trees that were lost during the disaster, received the greatest number of votes, which entitles it to the top-valued $50,000 grant. Two other local organizations, Young Leadership Council, which engages young professionals in community projects, and KaBOOM!, whose mission is to create play spaces within walking distance of every child in America, will each receive $25,000 grants.

“Starbucks has been an important partner of ours in the rebuilding and recovery of New Orleans,” said Monique Pilié, founder of Hike for KaTREEna. “We’re working together not only to revive the physical landscape, but to help the community heal and to bring about a renewed sense of hope. With this grant, we look forward to expanding our efforts in the coming year.”

Starbucks created the Vote, Give, Grow program to involve its partners (employees) and customers in the company’s neighborhood improvement efforts, and to increase awareness of the need for ongoing support in New Orleans. From September 1-27, customers at 21 Starbucks stores in the Greater New Orleans area were invited to drop a token into a voting bank to show support for the organization of their choice: Hike for KaTREEna, Young Leadership Council, or KaBOOM!. These beneficiaries were nominated to participate in the program by local Starbucks partners.

“Vote, Give, Grow has allowed us to provide critical funding for three strong, results-driven organizations while giving our partners and customers a role in the process. Our hope is that we’ve inspired them to consider how they can take further action,” said Rodney Hines, Starbucks director of Community Investments. “In the future, we’ll continue to engage passionate individuals in our efforts to restore this vibrant community.”

Vote, Give, Grow is part of Starbucks $5 million commitment to help rebuild communities in the Greater New Orleans area. To date, Starbucks has distributed $4.7 million to non-profit organizations that are dedicated to building and repairing homes and revitalizing public spaces. The remainder of Starbucks $5 million commitment will be directed toward holistic community programs that focus on education, employment, health, housing, and safety. In addition to awarding grants, the company plans to contribute service hours, training, and tools to organizations that are striving to make a long-term impact.

Starbucks believes it can help drive positive change around the world by mobilizing its partners and customers to volunteer, and by empowering young people to innovate and take action in their communities. In 2008, Starbucks hosted its U.S. leadership conference in New Orleans, and recruited 9,000 participating partners to contribute more than 36,000 community service hours. Over a four-day period, Starbucks partners painted and repaired 86 houses, landscaped more than 300 lots, and planted over 1,000 trees in hard-hit neighborhoods, such as Broadmoor, Hollygrove, Gentilly, City Park, and the Garden District.

For information on additional donor and volunteer opportunities, visit hikeforkatreena.com, youngleadershipcouncil.org, and kaboom.org. To learn more about Starbucks community initiatives, visit starbucks.com/responsibility.

 

About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at starbucks.com.