SEATTLE, Washington - From organizing the first-ever AIDS walk in Wilmington, N.C., to breaking volunteer attendance records in neighborhood cleanups in San Francisco, Calif. and Boston, Mass., Starbucks partners (employees), their families and customers donated more than 35,000 volunteer hours to raise more than $275,000 for charitable organizations across North America in September through the Starbucks Make Your Mark program.

The Starbucks Make Your Mark program was created in early 2000 to support partners, their families and friends’ volunteer efforts within their local communities. This past September the program was enhanced as a result to partners’ requests to be more involved in their communities and pay tribute to those lost on September 11, 2001. The Make Your Mark program was expanded to rally more than 25,000 volunteer hours in one month alone. Last year, Starbucks partners spent more than 12,700 hours making their mark to improve community life. This past month’s goal to generate 25,000 hours of volunteer time was exceeded by 10,000 hours.

“This September our program exceeded expectations on many levels—not only by total hours volunteered and contributions earned, but by spirit and motivation,” said Lauren Moore, Starbucks director of Giving and Community Affairs. “The dedication to really make a difference was extremely apparent in the more than 200 Make Your Mark-related events. This, in part, accounts for our record-breaking success.”

In support of the volunteer hours, Starbucks will be making a donation of $275,000 to nonprofits across North America. Examples of contributions across the country include:

Ø More than 155 volunteers from the Washington, D.C. metro-area worked to earn nearly $10,000 for “DC Scores Fall Frenzy” on Sept. 28 benefiting urban youth to join with classmates and participate together in Soccer and Creative Writing activities during after-school hours. Approximately 600 children participated in soccer games, poetry workshops, face painting and postcard decorating.

Ø On Sept. 11, more than 75 volunteers combed San Francisco’s Ocean Beach for debris as part of the California Coastal Cleanup organized by the California Coastal Commission.

Ø This year marked the most successful Detroit AIDS Walk in history, with nearly 230 volunteers on the Starbucks team (versus 40 last year). The team’s hours contributed $10,000 for the cause on Sept. 15.

Ø Thirty Austin, TX area stores participated in the Caritas of Austin Loaves & Fish Food Drive that culminated on Sept. 11. Approximately 1,700 pounds of food was donated on behalf of Starbucks’ Make Your Mark program.

Ø Start Making a Reader Today organized 24 Starbucks partners and customers to volunteer on Sept. 26 and read one-on-one with children at the Metzger Elementary School in Portland, Ore.

“Our team built of Wilmington community members, Starbucks customers and partners were very excited to support the first ever AIDS Walk in our coastal community,” said John Cheek, manager Starbucks Landfall Store, Wilmington, NC. “We hope this walk will be the start of many positive things to come.”

Starbucks is committed to on-going support of volunteerism in its local communities through its Make Your Mark program.

Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world. In addition to retail locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim, Starbucks sells coffee and tea products through its specialty operations, including its online store at Starbucks.com. Additionally, Starbucks produces and sells bottled Frappuccino® coffee drink, Starbucks DoubleShotä and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The Company's other brands enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products: Tazo Tea Company offers a line of innovative premium teas, and Hear Music produces and distributes a line of exceptional compact discs.

Starbucks Corporation

Starbucks Corporation

It's the way we do business Contributing positively to our communities and environment is so important to Starbucks that it's a guiding principle of our mission statement. We jointly fulfill this commitment with partners (employees), at all levels of the company, by getting involved together to help build stronger communities and conserve natural resources.

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