Thursday, April 30, 2009

Make Your Bids at the Homeroasters’ Online Auction

An intrepid band of home roasters has put together “Kick it up for Coffee Kids,” an online auction to benefit Coffee Kids. The group is offering over $3,000 worth of items throughout the month of May.

Items include: five home roasters, a top-flight Zass 580, top-shelf specialty greens, industry magazine subscriptions, logo and design work by Dillanos, a gorgeous shop sign to be personalized, coffee preps (Yamas, Chemex, Bodum, Bunn) and lots more. Forty separate items will be auctioned off throughout the month of May.

Visit http://homeroasters.org for details and to place your bids.

Special thanks to all of our friends at homeroasters.org and all of the businesses, organizations and individuals who have donated items and their time to make this auction possible.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Congrats to Roaster Winner

We’re proud to announce Barbara Smyth of Sunnyvale, Cali., as the winner of the Sonofresco Table Top Roaster drawing at this year’s Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) Expo.

“I entered thinking I couldn’t expect to win, but rather because I am supportive of Coffee Kids and the opportunity to give back to the people who grow the fine coffees I have been introduced to over the past couple of years. The farmers get so little of what I pay retail, so I made my donation with the best wishes for coffee-farming families and their collective future,” Smyth said after winning the roaster.

Elan Organic Coffee kindly donated the roaster for the drawing. The drawing was held on Sunday, April 19 at 1:30 pm at the Coffee Kids’ booth.

All proceeds from the drawing benefit Coffee Kids’ efforts to help coffee-farming families improve their quality of life. Thanks to all who participated!

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Friday, April 17, 2009

Coffee Kids Reception Big Hit

We just got back from our evening out and are thankful to all of our friends who stopped by our booth today at the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. Our reception, sponsored by Interamerican Coffee, had a tremendous turnout with people lined up outside the door. Executive Director Carolyn Fairman and Board President Rob Stephen spoke on Coffee Kids impact, and our partner and friend Fatima Ismael Espinoza, general manager of Coffee Kids’ partner, SOPPEXCCA, in Nicaragua, gave a great presentation on how their partnership with Coffee Kids is extending opportunity to children throughout Jinotega, Nicaragua. We’ll be posting pictures soon, but wanted to thank reception sponsor Interamerican Coffee and C.M.A. Spa of Italy for their generous contribution at the event.

Thanks to all who attended and be sure to stop by our booth (#1334) in the exhibition hall to find out how you can help coffee-farming families improve their quality of life.

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Friday, April 10, 2009

Getting the SCAA Jitters

The Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) Annual Expo is coming up next week, April 17-19, and we’re all busy prepping for the show. Coffee Kids will have a booth (#1334) in the exhibition hall and if you plan to attend, please stop by!

Our reception, sponsored by InterAmerican Coffee, will be Friday, April 17 from 5-7pm in Room 302A of the Georgia World Congress Center. Fatima Ismael Espinoza, general manager of Coffee Kids’ partner SOPPEXCCA in Nicaragua, will give a brief presentation on their organization’s efforts to promote leadership and cultural pride in schools where they work. And we’ll be holding a Coffee Kids Quiz for prizes.

We’ll also be selling tickets for our drawing to win a Sonofresco Roaster donated by Elan Organic Coffee. Tickets for the drawing are available for a suggested donation of $25 (five entries for a donation of $100) and participants need not be present to win. Stop by our booth or our reception to sign up. The winner’s name will be drawn on Sunday, April 19 at 1 pm at the Coffee Kids booth (#1334).

See you there!

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Kneading Change in Guatemala

“Kiniyen” means prosperity in Cakchiquel, a Mayan dialect spoken in central Guatemala. The word is also the name of a new bakery created by families from the community of Paraxaj under the tutelage of the Association for Sustainable Development of Paraxaj (ADESPA), a Coffee Kids partner.

The bakery, which was inaugurated in December 2008, is the culmination of a program that provided baking lessons and business training to a group of more than 30 women and men in Paraxaj. The bakery is located in the nearby city of Acatenango and employs six men and two women.

In the past, baked goods were brought into the local market from outside communities and lacked the freshness of locally produced goods. The “Kiniyen” bakery provides an affordable local alternative and currently operates with a 10-15% profit margin.

ADESPA coordinates a wide range of activities, including: literacy training, artisan projects and health lessons.

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Friday, April 03, 2009

Coffee Kids at the National Coffee Association Conference

I just returned from not-so-sunny Boca Raton, Florida. Coffee Kids attended the NCA conference this year for the first time, thanks to the generosity of the NCA. Thanks also to the great staff who provided so much support! I saw many familiar faces and long time supporters and met a few new folks who we hope will join us in our efforts to support coffee farming families.

NCA made a great effort to help us educate those new to Coffee Kids by showing a short version of our anniversary video during the opening session. Our table brought many visitors interested in learning more about our work and finding ways to get involved.

The show was a great way for us to reach new people in the coffee industry. I was fortunate to hear a few of the presentations on topics from global economic trends to on the ground efforts for coffee farmers. Sadly I was unable to participate in the fun golf, volleyball and tennis tournament events but I did sit and pine a bit looking at the beautifully manicured croquet lawn.

I’d also like to send a special thanks to Probat Burns for giving me a place at their table for the Saturday night black tie dinner. Hey, what was that song the NCA players performed? I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time! Thanks for the entertainment, and especially for all of the support!

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