News

Starbucks launches community-based program to help local causes

August 27, 2018

Starbucks and Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, have launched Starbucks Service Fellows, an employer-led service program inspired and informed by national service, according to a press release. The initial six-month pilot, launching this month, includes 36 Starbucks store partners (employees) from 13 cities across the U.S. who will serve with a Points of Light affiliate in their community, collectively providing more than 17,000 hours of community service.

As part of the Starbucks Service Fellows, selected partners will work 20 hours in their stores each week, while spending another 20 hours each week with a Points of Light local affiliate organization. 

By working at least 20 hours at Starbucks, each fellow also remains eligible for Starbucks benefits like comprehensive healthcare, equity in the form of company stock, and the Starbucks College Achievement Plan.

"We believe this bold program, designed in partnership with Starbucks, will redefine corporate engagement and the private sector's ability to support civic engagement," CEO of Points of Ligth Natalye Paquin, said in the release. "Starbucks investment in the 13 communities served by this initiative will not only spark positive change through more than 17,000 hours of community service, but it also serves as a model for an employer-led capacity-building program that Starbucks and other corporate partners can scale globally in the future." 

Points of Light identified 13 organizations with a focus on opportunity youth, refugees, veterans and military families, hunger, environment and disaster recovery. 

"I've always been very involved in community work and my store manager told me I could not miss this opportunity," said Katharine Ospina, a Starbucks shift supervisor from Florida who will work on hurricane preparedness and hurricane relief. "I can already see the impact we're going to make as we become more aware of the issues our communities are facing."

Points of Light mobilizes affiliates in 250 cities across 37 countries and partners with thousands of nonprofits and corporations. Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year.