12.21.2004 ET

(CSRwire) SEATTLE - As the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People draws to a close on December 23, Starbucks has allocated $200,000 to CARE, the international humanitarian and development organization, to fund a two-year pilot program to help improve the quality of life for select indigenous Mayan communities in the San Pedro Jocopilas region of Guatemala.

The San Pedro Jocopilas region of Guatemala is remote and consists of mountainous terrain, making it difficult for local residents to sustain income security. Much of the population must migrate in order to supplement their family income. The region is one of the poorest in the country where seventy percent of the people are living in extreme poverty and eighty-one percent of the population is illiterate.

The development project between Starbucks and CARE is expected to reach eight communities in San Pedro Jocopilas, representing more than 850 families and 4,600 people, contributing to programs in which CARE is already active, including Edubancomun (Education for All), Promesa (food distribution) and Diversified Income.

"Our relationship with CARE has been a strong and long-term partnership," said Deidra Wager, executive vice president, CARE liaison, Starbucks Coffee Company. "With the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People coming to a close, we felt it was the perfect time to show our continued commitment to indigenous people, working with CARE and the programs that help to improve the lives of the people in San Pedro Jocopilas.

"We've seen these development programs have an enormous impact on the women and children in the community. Through further education and micro-credit programs, they are given the opportunity to become self-sufficient," added Wager. "In addition, the women build confidence and become role models in the community. These programs improve the overall health and well-being of the communities and we're proud to be a part of them."

"Starbucks and CARE share a common goal of helping to improve the lives of those living in developing countries by enabling them to be more sustainable and self-sufficient," said Thomas Reynolds, Regional Director, CARE. "In fact, studies have shown that even one extra year of education increases a girl's wage earning ability by 10 to 30 percent. Additionally, with only a 10 percent increase in girls' school enrollment, a developing country can expect its birth mortality rate to drop by 4.1 births per 1000."

Starbucks and CARE have been working together since 1991. Over the years, Starbucks has contributed more than $2 million to CARE. Some of the issues on which Starbucks and CARE work together on are health and nutrition, community development, water sanitation, biodiversity conservation, community self-financing and children's issues around the world. In addition, they have been actively involved during global emergency situations such as after earthquakes and hurricanes to provide emergency relief to displaced victims.

About Starbucks Corporation
Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 8,700 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. In addition to its retail operations, the Company produces and sells bottled Frappuccino(R) coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot(R) coffee drink, and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The Company's brand portfolio provides a wide variety of consumer products. Tazo Tea's line of innovative premium teas and Hear Music's exceptional compact discs enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products. The Seattle's Best Coffee(R) and Torrefazione Italia(R) Coffee brands enable Starbucks to appeal to a broader consumer base by offering an alternative variety of coffee flavor profiles.

About CARE
CARE is one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations fighting global poverty. CARE works with poor communities in more than 72 countries around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty. CARE helps communities improve their quality of life through projects in agriculture and natural resources, economic development, education, food, health, water and sanitation and emergency response. For more information, please visit www.careusa.org.

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