10.25.2004 ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK, NY - America SCORES, a national after-school program, today announced that it has received a $500,000 grant from The Starbucks Foundation to grow its national after-school programs. The financial support from Starbucks enables America SCORES to further develop and strengthen its programs, which use poetry, soccer and community service to promote literacy and the physical and social well-being of at-risk youth in urban communities nationwide.

"Urban public schools continue to struggle with falling literacy rates among students and more urban youth are obese than at any point in our history," said Paul Caccamo, President, America SCORES. "The America SCORES solution is to make the 'couch' the enemy and to ask kids to get up, get active and exercise their bodies and minds through creative writing, soccer and community service."

The $500,000 Starbucks grant will be distributed to America SCORES over two years and will help the organization grow its programs in other major US cities as well as strengthen existing programs.

Through the Starbucks Card Duetto(tm)VISA(r), Starbucks is also the presenting sponsor of the 2004 Rock Bottom Remainders concert tour benefiting America SCORES at the end of October. The Duetto(tm) Card contributes $5 to The Starbucks Foundation after each cardmember's first purchase on the Visa(r) Account of their Duetto(tm) Card. From October 1 through December 31, 2004, America SCORES will be the recipient of all Duetto(tm) Card donations.

As presenting sponsor of the Rock Bottom Remainders tour, Starbucks is supporting one of America SCORES largest fundraising campaigns. The Rock Bottom Remainders is a rock band drawn from a pool of best-selling writers including Dave Barry, Amy Tan, Scott Turow, Frank McCourt and Mitch Albom. The literary world's answer to the Rolling Stones switches word processors for guitars annually as a fundraiser for America SCORES.

"Starbucks has supported America SCORES from its inception as a small Washington DC-based grass roots program," said Dave Pace, executive vice president, Partner Resources, Starbucks Coffee Company, and executive board member of America SCORES. "Starbucks partners (employees) and stores across the country regularly host America SCORES poetry slams and volunteer with SCORES poet-athletes in the classroom and on the field. We are proud to continue to strengthen America SCORES financially through our foundation, Duetto(tm) Card donations and through sponsorship of the Rock Bottom Remainders tour."

America SCORES is a nationally recognized, after-school program offering eight to 12-year-olds the opportunity to play soccer while learning how to express themselves through creative writing and community service. Programs are located in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. The program focuses on kids who are at risk of academic failure and directly addresses two of the most important concerns of American families: literacy and health.

"Starbucks support of America SCORES through volunteer participation and financial contributions demonstrates its commitment to youth development," said Mr. Caccamo. "Starbucks long-term support of America SCORES has helped ensure our survival and has allowed us to serve more and more kids year after year."

The Rock Bottom Remainders will tour the MidWest this month: October 26 - St Louis at The Pageant; October 28 - Chicago at the House of Blues; October 29 - Cleveland at the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; October 30 - Detroit at Clutch Cargo's.

About Starbucks Corporation
Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 8,500 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The Company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business.

ABOUT AMERICA SCORES
America SCORES is a national model for youth development, targeting girls and boys in urban neighborhoods that offer few, if any, recreational programs. The America SCORES solution is to make the "couch" the enemy and ask kids to get up, get active and exercise their bodies and minds through soccer, poetry, and community service. For more information visit www.americascores.org.

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