All profits from every cup and bag sold donated to programming for adults with disabilities
Portland, Ore – July 31, 2012 – Happy Cup Coffee, a new specialty coffee roaster that employs adults with disabilities at a competitive wage and donates all profits to vocational and recreational programming for the disabled, will be brewing up hot and iced coffee during Fremont Fest 2012 on August 4th, from 10am-6pm. Happy Cup employees will be sampling and selling two of their unique blends. Those who like their coffee steaming can enjoy The Buzz, a medium roast blend with notes of blueberries and dark chocolate, while the Boom! Boom! dark roast will keep iced-coffee drinkers buzzing all afternoon.
Happy Cup Coffee fired up its roaster in November 2011 with the mission of using sustainably sourced and ethically-traded coffee to brew up jobs and programming for adults with disabilities. With unemployment rates of nearly 80 percent for these individuals, the roaster is meeting a huge need by providing meaningful work, a competitive wage, job training and ongoing support. In addition, all profits are donated to vocational and recreational programming for adults with disabilities in the greater Portland area.
Employees with disabilities have a hand in nearly every aspect of the business. They brainstorm the coffee blend names – a sampling of which include Morning Maniac, Coffee Go Go and Flying Unicorn – weigh and package the beans, stamp the packages with labels that include the name of the person who did the packaging and twist the ties that seal each bag. They also join the sales crew in handing out samples where Happy Cup Coffee is sold.
Happy Cup Founder Rachel Bloom says, “We created a safe place for our employees where they can learn job skills, perform meaningful tasks and interact with the community. It’s incredibly gratifying to see them flourish with the company and develop that sense of independence that comes with a regular paycheck.”
Happy Cup Coffee doesn’t just promote a better future for adults with disabilities in our community. The company also promotes a better future for farmers and for the planet by making every effort to purchase only ethically-traded coffees from small coffee farms around the world. Happy Cup Coffee is People with Potential making a great cup of coffee.
About Happy Cup Coffee
Happy Cup Coffee is a Portland Ore., based specialty coffee roaster that employs adults with disabilities to assist in the roasting, packaging, and distribution of high-quality, ethically traded coffees. In addition to providing employment opportunities, Happy Cup Coffee Company will donate 100 percent of profits after taxes to vocational and recreational programming for adults with disabilities in the local community. For a complete list of retail stores, cafes and restaurants selling Happy Cup Coffee, and to purchase online, please visit http://www.happycup.com.