Coffee chain launches school fundraising initiative with the help of leading personalities
JOBURG – Starbucks has secured the support of some heavy hitting personalities who’ll be in their coffee shops throughout July and August hosting celebrity serving sessions and raising money for their schools of choice.
Leading coffee chain Starbucks has launched Starbucks for Schools, an initiative to help schools in the community raise much-needed funds for themselves.
To launch the campaign, Starbucks has secured the support of some heavy hitting personalities who’ll be in their coffee shops throughout July and August hosting celebrity serving sessions and raising money for their schools of choice.
You can expect to have your favourite coffee drink served to you by rugby legend Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira, musician Bobby Van Jaarsveld, TV and radio personality Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, influencer Nadia Jaftha, and chef Zola Nene.
Once the celebrity dust has settled, schools can apply directly to Starbucks to host their own serving sessions with a percentage of sales being donated to their school.
“School fundraising is an often difficult, yet, necessary activity to keep schools functioning well and it is in our DNA as Starbucks to support the communities in which we operate,” said Dylan Pienaar, acting managing executive of Starbucks.
Kicking off the first of these celebrity sessions is Springbok and Sharks rugby legend, Mtawarira at Starbucks Gateway in Durban on 12 July from 6pm–9pm. Fans and customers will be able to meet and be served by The Beast, and a percentage of his sales go to Sizani Primary School in Salt Rock, to help with resources they need for learning books and stationery.
Moving across the country, Afrikaans superstar and former The Voice SA judge Bobby van Jaarsveld will host his session at Starbucks Menlyn Park on 1 August from 6pm–9 pm. Funds raised by purchases will be donated to Pikanini Daycare Centre, that he helped establish with his sister Karlien van Jaarsveld in Benoni.
South African media personality and businesswoman Afrika-Bredenkamp will host her session at Starbucks Sandton City on Tuesday 6th August from 6pm–9pm. She has chosen her alma-mater, Parow High School with which she has an ongoing mentorship programme, to receive funds raised from her session.
YouTube star and SA influencer Jaftha loves a good coffee and jumped at the chance to host her own serving session at Starbucks Rosebank Mall on 8 August from 6pm–9 pm, with funds to be donated to Seal College in Cape Town, for learners with varying intellectual disabilities, including Downs syndrome and autism.
Lastly, celebrity chef, TV personality and award-winning cookbook author Nene will host her delectable session at Starbucks Mall of Africa on 13 August from 6pm–9 pm. Funds raised during Zola’s session will be donated to The Lunchbox Fund, an organisation that provides nutritious daily school meals to children who would otherwise go hungry.
Starbucks South Africa has pledged to continue their fundraising efforts and support for schools in need across the country. Sister schools and organisations wishing to host their own ‘serving sessions’ at their nearest Starbucks to raise funds can get in touch with Starbucks.
