Shoppers Find New Perks at Coffee Bar: Give Back as Part of Daily Grind

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For 99 cents, shoppers can help fund a special needs school in Kenya, reduce waste and preserve their morning java – all at once – when they purchase a L.I.F.E. Jacket reusable cup sleeve, with any Allegro Coffee beverage at Whole Foods Market.  

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Every cent from each handmade canvas sleeve sold goes to nonprofit Comfort the Children International (CTC) to empower Kenyan mothers to earn a living and send their children to school. L.I.F.E. stands for Livelihood, Invest, Future, Empower - which is what the nonprofit aims to provide and do for the poor in rural Kenya.

In 2008, CTC founded the first school for disabled children in the Kenyan Rift Valley, where students have since learned to walk, read, write and enjoy a healthy environment with other children. CTC also added a tailoring room onto the school where the nonprofit is teaching mothers how to sew the L.I.F.E. Jackets and paying fair wages for their work. Through the program, mothers are regaining hope and self-respect, lifting their families out of poverty and – for the first time ever – sending their children to school.

Supporting CTC's efforts isn't the first partnership of its kind for Allegro. It has long been an active participant in the global community. In addition to ensuring responsible sourcing and equitable pricing, Allegro donates five percent of profits to communities where it buys its coffee and tea.

Learn more about CTC at ctcinternational.org. For more about Allegro visit allegrocoffee.com.

Quotes:

"Buying a L.I.F.E. Jacket saves so much more than your coffee. Many Kenyans believe that giving birth to a child with disabilities is punishment for committing a crime, and grounds to shun a mother and child from the community. Jobs become scarce and there's no place for their children in public school. Through L.I.F.E. Jacket sales, CTC is putting an end to that vicious cycle."
- Zane Wilemon, founder and executive director of Comfort the Children International.

"One small, split-second choice can bring a lifetime of change for a mother and her child across the globe. We're proud to offer shoppers this easy way to give back as they go about their daily routine."
- Jeff Teter, president and general manager of Allegro Coffee Company

Contact: Liz Burkhart, 512.542.0682, [email protected]

SOURCE Whole Foods Market