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Caribou Coffee Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary By Announcing Its Charitable Foundation, Caribou for Kids
Caribou Coffee Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary By Announcing Its Charitable Foundation, Caribou for Kids
Published 12-17-02
Submitted by Caribou Coffee Company
"It's my belief that successful organizations such as Caribou must give back to the communities in which they live and operate," said Don Dempsey, CEO of Caribou. "We selected children in need as the foundation's main priority because there is no greater asset to our future than a child that has been given every opportunity to succeed. Whether it is healthcare, education, nutrition, computer skills or any other opportunity we can try and offer young people, our foundation will work with our local communities to identify and benefit those children."
The foundation's mission is to provide assistance to children in the local
communities where Caribou does business. One hundred percent of the foundation's proceeds for this project and future projects will be directed toward the beneficiary. All administrative costs will be fully funded by Caribou Coffee.
"We are tremendously excited about the support and donations we are receiving from Caribou," said Joan Hultman, Principal of Wenonah Community Elementary School. "Not only will the students be receiving new books for the library as well as new books to keep for themselves, but Caribou has also donated two new computers and educational software to our media center. It's a wonderful contribution that will help us get a start on the right foot for the New Year."
Don Dempsey, CEO of Caribou, will spend the day at Wenonah Community Elementary School on December 17th to visit with the students and teachers and present the children books. Caribou partnered with Wenonah to help students
succeed with their reading. According to national studies, students must be able to read by grade three in order to learn effectively. Beyond the third grade, most subjects depend on a student reading at a prescribed level. Such national statistics fueled Caribou's decision to support early reading initiatives at the school.
About Wenonah Community Elementary School
A small school of 240 students, Wenonah represents a diverse community of American Indian, African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and White American students. More than 60% of the students are on the free or reduced lunch program, and more than 25% of the children receive special English language instruction.
About Caribou for Kids
Caribou Coffee, in celebration of its 10-year anniversary, created its charitable foundation -- Caribou For Kids -- in late 2002. The foundation's mission is to provide assistance to children in need in the local communities where Caribou does business.
About Caribou Coffee
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Caribou Coffee is the nation's second-largest specialty coffee company with more than 200 stores and 3,000 employees in nine states and the District of Columbia. Caribou's stores have the look and feel of an Alaskan lodge, with knotty-pine cabinetry, a fireplace and soft seating.
In 1999, Caribou Coffee named Don Dempsey, former president and CEO of McDonald's China, as its chief executive officer. In December 2000, the Pucketts sold nearly 80 percent of the company to Crescent Capital, Atlanta, to help support aggressive expansion plans. Founders John and Kim Puckett no longer play a role in management of the company.
Caribou Coffee calls itself "the best neighborhood gathering place," serving the highest-quality coffee. Additionally, in order to be a leader in coffee quality, the company has invested in state-of-the-art roasting and
packaging equipment.
