BALTIMORE, MD. - December 1, 2008 - An organization in the Philippines that provides microfinance loans to unemployed youth to start their own businesses and a program in Pakistan that combats violence against women and girls by changing the behaviors of men are two of 25 programs in 17 countries recently recognized for the young social entrepreneur leading their cause. All programs have been selected by Starbucks and the International Youth Foundation (IYF) to receive grants through the Starbucks Social Entrepreneurs Fund, a key component of the Starbucks(TM) Shared Planet(TM) commitment to communities.

The grantees were chosen through a competition that was established in early 2008 by IYF and the Starbucks Foundation in order to makes grants available to young leaders who have completed IYF's YouthActionNet(R) Global Fellowship. The Fellowship is a program that aims to develop a new generation of socially conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries and the world.

"Today's young social entrepreneurs work tirelessly in support of their social change visions, yet struggle to access the financial resources to take their important work to scale," said IYF President and CEO William S. Reese. "Starbucks recognizes the invaluable contributions of these young leaders and has provided much-needed support to expand the impact of their efforts."

"We are proud to support the amazing efforts of these young leaders who have the passion to create positive solutions to real needs and join Starbucks in our Shared Planet(TM) commitment to communities," said Ben Packard, Starbucks vice president, global responsibility. "Through their hard work and dedication, we hope to see measurable change in local communities and help them inspire others to act."

Among the 25 projects to receive a total of over $300,000 in Starbucks Social Entrepreneurs Fund grants are:

Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), Australia: Launched by Anna Rose, AYCC seeks to build a generation-wide movement to help solve climate change. The grant will be used to educate 25,000 high school students about climate change and solutions at the local, national and global level.

Emmanuel Youth Empowerment Program, Kenya: Started by Daniel Nduati, the Emmanuel Program will expand its computer literacy and life skills training in an effort to reach 850 disadvantaged youth living in the Dagoretti slums of Nairobi.

MuJeres por la Justicia, Educacion y el Reconocimeiento (MuJER), Guatemala: Founded by Ana Moraga, MuJER will create a community center where 250 women sex workers in Guatemala City can participate in educational and vocational programs.

Unite for Sight, United States: Representatives of 24 villages in Ghana will receive training through Unite for Sight, a global nonprofit launched by Jennifer Staple, to serve as community eye health workers who will aim to reach more than 86,000 patients annually.

The size of grants awarded through the Fund range from US$5,000-$15,000. A committee comprised of IYF staff and Starbucks employees selected the final grant recipients. To learn more about the Starbucks Social Entrepreneurs Fund and planned activities of all 25 grant recipients, visit: www.youthactionnet.org.

About YouthActionNet(R)
Launched in 2001, YouthActionNet(R) seeks to develop a new generation of socially conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world. Through its Fellowship Programs, national institutes, dynamic website, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, YouthActionNet(R) offers young change makers ideas, resources, and connections to like minds around the world. To date, YouthActionNet(R) has launched national institutes in Brazil, Mexico, and Spain, with additional institutes planned for Australia, Chile, Haiti, and Israel in 2008-2009.

About the International Youth Foundation (IYF)
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil-society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities. To learn more, visit: www.iyfnet.org.

About the Starbucks Social Entrepreneurs Fund
The Starbucks Social Entrepreneurs Fund helps young people realize their natural potential to reinvent their local communities. The Fund is the primary vehicle through which the Starbucks Foundation invests in communities globally as part of the Starbucks(TM) Shared Planet(TM) commitment to communities where the company does business. Since launching the Fund in 2007, more than $1.5 million has been invested in programs around the world. The Fund is integral to the company achieving its goal by 2015 of engaging 50,000 young social entrepreneurs to innovate and take action and, in turn, to inspire 100,000 additional individuals to take action in their communities. For more information, please visit www.starbucksfoundation.com/sef.

International Youth Foundation

International Youth Foundation

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities. To learn more visit www.iyfnet.org.

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