Starbucks Coffee Company and their social responsibility. Includes bibliography.

Essay by upplepopUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, February 2003

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Social Responsibility - Starbucks

Starbucks originally began as a single store in Seattle. Today, in an amazing short period of time, Starbucks has grown to over 4,000 stores all over the world--with three more opening every day!(4) This not only created an immensely successful business, but also began what is now a staple of American life... the coffee bar. Since the beginning, Starbucks' founder and CEO Howard Schultz wanted to create a different kind of company. He wanted Starbucks to put its employees, customers, and community first. Starbucks includes this in their mission statement; one of their guidelines is to "Contribute positively to our communities and environment."(2) Since Starbucks made this statement, they have more than lived up to their expectations.

The core of Starbucks' social responsibility is in The Starbucks Foundation. This foundation was established in 1997 with the goal of creating hope, discovery, and opportunity in the communities in which Starbucks lives and works.(1)

Literacy is the cornerstone of the Starbucks Foundation. It sponsors local community literacy organizations in almost every community with a Starbucks store. The Foundation also donates heavily to children's causes, local issues, and the arts.

Starbucks is also the leading corporate sponsor of CARE, an international aid and relief organization. CARE helps to develop community clean water and sanitation systems in Guatemala and Indonesia and has provided aid to the coffee-growing regions across the world. CARE also creates and organizes programs to prevent the spread of AIDS.

Supporting local causes and organizations is important to Starbucks. It helps to reduce their image of a huge, faceless corporation. Every Starbucks store will contribute any coffee beans that are more than seven days old to a local charity. Starbucks also contributes funds to local disadvantaged schools. The Starbucks Foundation frequently donates to local...