Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. Pledges Over $2 Million to Fight Hunger in Indonesia
Strategic Grant Making with Save the Children Creates Positive
Results for Coffee Farming Families
WATERBURY, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
As part of its ongoing effort to fight hunger in coffee-growing
communities, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) (NASDAQ:
GMCR) announces it has pledged over $2 million to food security projects
in the Aceh province of Indonesia. The Company has sourced coffee from
this region for more than 10 years, much of it Fair Trade Certified™ and
organic.
Children gather for a nutritious meal at an early child development center in Indonesia. (Photo: Business Wire)
GMCR has joined forces with the nonprofit organization Save the Children
to fund a three-year project called LINK — Livelihoods and Improved
Nutrition for Kids. At the beginning of the project, 46% of families
surveyed reported food shortages in the prior 12 months. After two years
of LINK education on food diversification, child health, and nutrition,
that number dropped to 6%.
"My husband and I never thought that a small parcel of land could be
profitable to us," said Asnaini, a mother of three who lives in Bener
Meriah, Indonesia. The LINK program provided Asnaini with vegetable
seeds and education on composting, fertilizing, and pest control.
"Through the home gardening program, I can provide my children more
easily with healthy, nutritious food and also have a more consistent
additional income which I can use to buy my children's school uniforms
and supplies," Asnaini said.
GMCR provided $500,000 for the first phase of the LINK project, which
targeted 5,500 small-scale coffee growing families from February 2010 to
March 2012. The Company recently pledged over $1.5 million for a second
phase, currently underway, which expands the program to additional
families in the region.
"We have found that joining with other organizations enhances our
ability to help farming families become more self-sufficient," said Rick
Peyser, Director of Social Advocacy and Supply Chain Community Outreach
for GMCR. "The success of the LINK project is a great example of what
can be accomplished when we all work together toward a common goal."
"We're grateful for GMCR's support of this LINK program," said Carolyn
Miles, CEO of Save the Children. "Together, we have strengthened food
security for coffee growing families in Indonesia, and helped their
children gain access to key health services."
The project with Save the Children is one of many projects funded by
GMCR in the Aceh region of Indonesia to address the needs of small-scale
coffee farmers, including programs around financial literacy, health
care, and sustainable coffee production. Each year, GMCR allocates a
portion of its pre-tax profits to socially and environmentally
responsible initiatives. In its fiscal 2011, the resources GMCR
allocated to sustainability programs totaled $15.2 million.
For more information, visit www.BrewingABetterWorld.com.
About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
As a leader in specialty coffee and coffee makers, Green Mountain Coffee
Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) (NASDAQ:GMCR) is recognized for its award-winning
coffees, innovative Keurig® Single Cup brewing technology, and socially
responsible business practices. GMCR supports local and global
communities by offsetting 100% of its direct greenhouse gas emissions,
investing in sustainably-grown coffee, and donating a portion of its
pre-tax profits to social and environmental projects.
GMCR routinely posts information that may be of importance to investors
in the Investor Relations section of its website, including news
releases and its complete financial statements, as filed with the SEC.
The Company encourages investors to consult this section of its website
regularly for important information and news. Additionally, by
subscribing to the Company's automatic
email news release delivery, individuals can receive news directly
from GMCR as it is released.
About Save the Children
Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating
lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and
around the world. Recognized for its commitment to accountability,
innovation and collaboration, their work takes them into the heart of
communities, where they help children and families help themselves. Save
the Children works with other organizations, governments, non-profits
and a variety of local partners while maintaining its own independence
without political agenda or religious orientation. Learn more at www.SavetheChildren.org.
GMCR-S
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50406940&lang=en

GMCR's Specialty Coffee Business Unit
Sandy Yusen, 866-968-2739
Director
of Public Relations
sandy.yusen@gmcr.com
Source: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
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