founder

Bill Fishbein, Founder of Coffee Kids
photo of bill fishbeinBill Fishbein, owner of Coffee Exchange in Providence, R.I., has been working in coffee for most of his life. Fishbein created Coffee Kids in 1988 after witnessing the poverty and difficulties faced by coffee-farming families on a trip to Guatemala. Over the years, he has developed a profound understanding of community-driven development.

With Coffee Kids, Fishbein and his team followed an innovative approach to development allowing coffee-farming families to identify their most pressing needs and create their own projects to solve problems. These programs recognize the inherent ingenuity of coffee-farming families and respect the cultural values and norms of the communities.

In 2002, Fishbein was awarded the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) highest award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, for Coffee Kids’ innovative approach to grassroots development. In 2003, Coffee Kids was the subject of a PBS documentary called the Visionaries that highlighted Fishbein’s leadership.

Since retiring from active involvement with Coffee Kids in 2008, Fishbein has continued his efforts to help impoverished families.

For more information on Fishbein’s retirement, please read the press release.

Coffee Kids has over 400 business members. Visit one in your neighborhood and please say "gracias" for us!