Featured Donor: Boston Stoker

Boston Stoker has been a Coffee Kids supporter since 1991 after Don Dean, who founded the company with his wife Sally, saw a Coffee Kids presentation at a Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) conference.

“We were charter members of the SCAA and our founder was an economist. What attracted him to Coffee Kids was that it made economic sense, it’s a great way to address a tough problem,” said Henry Dean, vice president of operations.

Boston Stoker began in 1973 as a pipe tobacco and cigar store. They began offering specialty coffee the following year to entice customers to stay longer and the beverage eventually supplanted their tobacco business. The company now includes ten coffee shops and a wholesale roasting plant in the Dayton, Ohio area.

“We are able to support Coffee Kids through generous donations from our retail customers. All of our locations have Coffee Kids coin drops instead of tip jars.”

Employees at the company are informed about Coffee Kids work and they share this information with customers. Some employees donate a portion of their check per week. And it adds up. Boston Stoker has donated more than $50,000 since 2005.

“We constantly receive feedback from both customers and our baristas. They’re very proud to be helping the families that bring them great coffee,” Dean said.