TEMPE, AZ - Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) announced today a $1.5 million commitment over three years to Jumpstart, a national non-profit early education organization that helps preschoolers in low-income communities enter school with the skills they need to succeed. As the Official Growth Partner for Jumpstart, Starbucks commitment continues a partnership that began in 2001. Since that time, Jumpstart has tripled in size and has become one of the fastest growing non-profits in America.

To celebrate the renewed partnership, Jumpstart and Starbucks will host a learning festival at Arizona State University (ASU) on Friday, April 29, 2005, where Jumpstart recently launched a program with support from Starbucks. Jumpstart and Starbucks will be joined by more than 200 children and their families from the Tempe community.

"Encouraging early development of literacy skills is essential to the future of our communities," said Jim Alling, president, Starbucks Coffee U.S. "Our partnership with Jumpstart not only allows us to make a direct impact on the children they serve, but also helps Jumpstart to expand the program throughout the country. We are proud to support an organization that shares our vision for inspiring hope and discovery among children."

More than 200 children and their families from Tempe will gather at ASU for Jumpstart-For-A-Day - fun, hands-on learning activities with ASU students, Jumpstart staff, and Starbucks volunteers. Children will create musical instruments out of cups and coffee beans, design hand puppets, make bubbles, and enjoy many other activities designed to foster early learning skills. Pinkerton the dog, from the children's book series Pinkerton, and Corduroy, from the children's book series Corduroy, will also make a rare special appearance to participate in the fun.

The learning festival will culminate in a check presentation by Alling to Jumpstart President and Chief Executive Officer Rob Waldron and 20 Jumpstart college students from ASU.

"Since 2001, Starbucks has been a partner in our mission to work toward the day every child in America enters school to succeed; a partner in our efforts to educate our communities about the value of investing in early literacy; and a partner in our belief that every child deserves a chance for success," said Waldron. "We are excited to continue working with Starbucks to bring high quality learning experiences to preschool children across the country."

Starbucks relationship with Jumpstart is part of the Company's ongoing commitment to literacy. As a growth sponsor, Starbucks provides critical funding to continue Jumpstart's work with preschoolers, families, and college students as well as expand to new communities, such as Tempe, through a partnership with Arizona State University. Starbucks has helped Jumpstart expand from 20 locations in 2001 to 57 locations in 2005.

Jumpstart sites and Starbucks stores across the country have partnered to build local support for literacy. From organizing in-store book and supply drives, to building children's libraries at Jumpstart's partner preschools, to sponsoring Jumpstart's campus-based learning events, Starbucks and Jumpstart build community awareness around the value of children's literacy and education.

About Starbucks Coffee Company

Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 9,000 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. For more information about Starbucks social responsibility, please visit www.starbucks.com/csrannualreport.

About Jumpstart

Jumpstart is a national early education organization that works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Through extraordinary attention in yearlong one-to-one relationships, Jumpstart inspires children to learn, adults to teach, families to get involved, and communities to progress together. Headquartered in Boston, Jumpstart currently engages 2,100 college students on Federal Work-Study as mentors to nearly 8,000 children, operates in 57 communities, and serves 200 preschools across the country. Jumpstart's national sponsors include American Eagle Outfitters, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, Pearson, and Starbucks. Jumpstart is the recipient of the Fast Company/Monitor Social Capitalist Award (2004 and 2005) and the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy's Directors Award. For more information, visit the Jumpstart Web site at www.jstart.org.

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.

More from Starbucks Corporation