8.02.2005 ET

(CSRwire) SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2005--The Starbucks Foundation, a philanthropic organization formed by Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX), today announced a new regional grant program designed to empower youth in local communities and provide them a voice in their community.

The grant program -- called "Giving Voice" -- will primarily fund educational initiatives for youth, aged between six and 18 years old, in the arts, literacy, and environmental education. The grants will range from $5,000 to $20,000 and will be awarded twice a year. The grant deadlines are September 1 and March 1.

In addition to the Starbucks Foundation's support for two national non-profits, America SCORES and Jumpstart, the "Giving Voice" grant program introduces a new partnership with an environmental education organization, the Earth Day Network.

"Starbucks Foundation was founded on the philosophy that giving back to communities where we do business is as important as making the perfect cup of coffee," said Lauren Moore, executive director, Starbucks Foundation. "We are very excited about launching this new grant program as we believe in investing in youth. Through these grants, we hope to expand and create opportunities for the future generation to contribute their voices for the betterment of our communities."

The Starbucks Foundation was established in 1997 to create hope, discovery and opportunity in communities where Starbucks partners employees) live and work. Since its inception, the Starbucks Foundation has granted more than $11 million to more than 700 organizations across the United States and Canada. It is currently in its eighth year of grant making.

"Starbucks recognizes that young people have the greatest long-term stake in a healthy, diverse, sustainable planet," said Denis Hayes, founder, Earth Day Network. "The Starbucks Foundation's generous commitment to environmental literacy will help produce a new generation of earth stewards."

Earth Day Network's mission is to broaden the environmental movement worldwide and to educate and mobilize people, governments, and corporations to take responsibility for protecting our planet. The Starbucks Foundation partnership focuses on Earth Day Network's new Civic Education Project that teaches and promotes civic engagement in the classroom by highlighting local environmental issues and concerns.

About Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 9,500 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. 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 -- innovative superpremium Tazo(R) teas and exceptional compact discs from Starbucks Hear Music(TM) 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.

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