The Starbucks Foundation has more than a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/the-starbucks-foundation-launches-global-community-impact-grants-initiative/">announced</a>&nbsp;a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world.

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In the third year of the&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/supporting-youth-empowerment-hunger-relief-and-refugees-in-emea/">Global Community Impact Grants</a>&nbsp;program, The Starbucks Foundation awarded grants to 85 nonprofits, all of which were nominated by Starbucks international licensees and will reach communities in more than 46 markets. Between grants and co-investment from international licensees, over $3.2 million has been awarded in 2024 to date for causes aligned to The Starbucks Foundation’s community impact goals, including youth workforce development, hunger relief and economic opportunity, while also promoting access to human and social services, water and sanitation and greater inclusion and diversity.

In Asia Pacific, The Foundation awarded 24 grants across 12 markets for causes ranging from social services to youth workforce development to hunger relief to inclusion &amp; diversity. Grants were awarded in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/global-community-impact-grants/">Learn more</a>&nbsp;about the program and organizations we are supporting in Asia Pacific and across the globe.

Supporting Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief, and Inclusion &amp; Diversity in Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Stories Asia

Supporting Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief, and Inclusion &amp; Diversity in Asia Pacific

Supporting Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief, and Inclusion & Diversity in Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

The Starbucks Foundation has more than a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation&nbsp;announced&nbsp;a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world. In the third year […]

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2024/global-community-impact-grants-asia-pacific/

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Supporting Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief, and Inclusion & Diversity in Asia Pacific

Starbucks Philippines continues its commitment to youth education with the opening of its second community store in the market in Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City. This new store adds to the global network of over 200 Starbucks® Community Stores and over 50 stores in the Asia Pacific region. Starbucks Community Stores create environments that aim to help uplift communities in locally relevant ways. These store concepts – led by partners who directly connect to the initiative or cause of that store – provide intentional and dedicated programming and experiences.

Building on the positive impact on youth created by Starbucks Philippines’ first Community Store in Abad Santos Tondo last September, this new store continues to create economic opportunities and empower underserved communities through youth education.

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A portion of the proceeds from the Maysilo Circle Community Store will support Mano Amiga Philippines, an organization dedicated to enhancing education for children from low-income communities. Established in Mexico in 1963 and active in the Philippines since 2008, Mano Amiga has steadily grown, providing more scholarships each year to deserving students.

Starting this October, Starbucks Philippines, in partnership with Mano Amiga, will launch the Raising Readers and Raising Leaders programs. These initiatives will benefit underprivileged youth at Nayon ng Kabataan in the Welfareville community, Mandaluyong City. Raising Readers promotes literacy through storytelling, arts and crafts, and nutritious meals. Raising Leaders offers leadership training, life skills workshops, scholarships, and school placement support. Together, these programs aim to advance children's education and positively impact their communities.

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"We are thrilled to work with Mano Amiga for our second Community Store, as their mission aligns with our values and commitment to advancing youth education in the communities we serve," said Noey Lopez, president of Starbucks Philippines. "Through this meaningful partnership, we are helping to create a brighter future for the Filipino youth."

Bringing Learning Closer to Home

The new Community Store also features Starbucks first Community Library, designed to empower children through the transformative power of books.

This library aims to inspire continuous curiosity and lifelong learning by fostering a love for reading from an early age. It will feature a diverse collection of books, including works by Filipino writers and illustrators that showcase Filipino values and experiences, as well as a selection of international books offering young customers an enjoyable reading experience while inside the store.

In addition to a two-story space for the café, Starbucks Philippines has co-created a custom mural with Manila-based artist Tara Soriano. Her vibrant artwork, titled “Of Books and Beans” depicts coffee and books coming together and reflects her personal passion for inspiring young minds.

Strengthening Community Ties in Mandaluyong

Since the launch of Starbucks FoodShare in 2022, in partnership with Grab and the Philippine FoodBank Foundation, Starbucks has donated over 1.3 million food items nationwide, helping to relieve hunger in the community. Starting October this year, select Starbucks stores in Mandaluyong will donate rescuable food directly to the Welfareville community.

Additionally, Starbucks Philippines will collaborate with Gawad Kalinga to bring Kusina ng Kalinga+ to Welfareville. This initiative empowers local parent volunteers to prepare nutritious meals for children in public schools. In partnership with The Starbucks Foundation, Starbucks has provided over 236,000 meals across the country since 2022, and starting this October, they will be supporting 200 children in this community through this initiative.

Starbucks Philippines Opens 2nd Community Store : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Philippines Opens 2nd Community Store

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2024/starbucks-philippines-opens-2nd-community-store/

Starbucks marks 25 years in Korea, with over 23,000 green apron partners (employees) delivering the iconic Starbucks Experience in over 1,900 stores

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Starbucks Korea marks its 25th anniversary with the unveiling of its ninth community store, the Hwangudan Community Store in Jung-gu, Seoul, dedicated to preserving national heritage. The company also announced plans to donate 1 billion KRW (approximately US$720,000) over the next five years for the preservation of national heritage in partnership with Korea Heritage Service and the National Trust for Cultural Heritage. This builds on the 1.1 billion KRW (approximately US$800,000) donated by Starbucks Korea for cultural heritage protection since 2015.

Among the first international coffee companies to introduce Koreans to a new style of café culture when it first entered the market in 1999, Starbucks in South Korea has become a unique third place for uplifting human connections. With more than 23,000 green apron partners (employees) delivering the iconic Starbucks Experience in over 1,900 stores across 82 cities, Korea is the fourth largest market for Starbucks globally today, surpassed only by the U.S., China, and Japan.

Starbucks entered the market in 1999 with its licensee partner E-Mart Inc. (Shinsegae Group). Since then, Starbucks Korea has played an important role in introducing a new style of café culture – a third place – turning coffee shops into places to work, study, socialize, and connect. Today, over 23,000 green apron partners (employees) are delivering the iconic Starbucks Experience in over 1,900 stores across 82 cities in Korea.

“The story of Starbucks in Korea is one that is deeply linked with our longstanding partnership with the Shinsegae Group who has been instrumental in delivering the Starbucks promise to our customers, partners, communities, and the environment,” said Emmy Kan, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific. “We are proud of all that we have accomplished together in Korea, where we continue to elevate coffee culture, reimagine the third place and iconic Starbucks experience for our customers and communities.”

Celebrating 25 years of coffee and connections in Korea

Since entering the market, Starbucks Korea is dedicated to digital innovation and has consistently delivered exciting firsts for the brand. Korea was the launchpad for Starbucks Mobile Order and Pay system, Siren Order, as well as the introduction of Starbucks app integration on wearable devices across Asia. The market also played a pivotal role in the shift to cashless operations, with the successful pilot of a cashless store model outside of the United States. Learnings from these pioneering programs in Korea have since influenced and supported programs across Starbucks globally.

Beyond digital innovation, Starbucks Korea has also demonstrated a deep commitment to nurturing partners and uplifting local communities through thoughtful and impactful initiatives. Since the program began in 2015, the Starbucks Korea College Achievement Plan has enabled over 400 partners to earn bachelor's degrees, empowering them with the tools to achieve their professional aspirations. Furthermore, the company partners with local government bodies to establish and operate 14 neighborhood cafés managed by local welfare centers and non-profits, providing support ranging from barista training to construction.

The company also makes significant contribution to Starbucks Environmental Promise to give more than it takes. Starbucks Korea was recently awarded the prestigious Presidential Award for Environmental Conservation from the Ministry of Environment in Korea for its continuous efforts to reduce waste, promote reusable practices, and implement innovative recycling solutions. Since 2013, the company has prevented the use of more than 150 million disposable cups over the past 17 years.

A third place that strengthens communities

Starbucks Korea has always been committed to the Community Store program, distinguishing itself in Asia Pacific as the market with the highest number of Community Stores in the region. Community Stores are at the heart of Starbucks mission to nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection – they are purpose-defined to better support partners, customers, and the local communities they service to drive meaningful change and lasting connections.

The newly opened ninth Community Store reflects Starbucks community promise in action. &nbsp;“We are constantly seeking new ways to bring the Starbucks Experience to our customers and fulfill the needs of our community. With the opening of our ninth Community Store, we hope to further expand the series of activities that Starbucks has carried out over the past decade for cultural heritage preservation,” said Ryan Sohn, ceo of Starbucks Korea. “We will continue to raise awareness of national heritage preservation across the company and create more opportunities for engagement in these meaningful activities.”

The store features replicas of two historic calligraphy pieces donated by Starbucks Korea to the National Trust for Cultural Heritage. Demonstrating Starbucks community promise in action, a portion of proceeds from Starbucks Hwangudan – 300 KRW (approximately US$0.22) per item – combined with proceeds from special national heritage preservation products created by Starbucks, will also be donated to support the preservation of national heritage.

“With nine Community Stores across the market, supporting causes from inclusion to youth employment, and community development, Starbucks Korea has raised the bar in innovation with an impact,” said Brady Brewer, ceo of Starbucks International. “We are proud to continue supporting initiatives that preserve local and national heritage, celebrating the rich cultural legacy of Korea.”

To celebrate this milestone anniversary with customers across Korea, Starbucks will feature special offerings for a limited time.

Customers will be able to enjoy global-inspired beverages, including the London Fog Tea Latte, French Vanilla Latte and the Melon of Melon Frappuccino® Blended Beverage. The eagerly awaited Oleato™ Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Hazelnut will also be available to customers across all Starbuck stores starting July 19. To encourage sustainable behaviors, customers will be able to buy three beverages – Caffe Americano, Caffe Latte and Caramel Macchiato – at their original prices in 1999, when they purchase a reusable cup.

Starbucks Korea also launched a limited-edition 25th anniversary merchandise collection sporting the heritage logo, including mugs, tumblers, and a big Bearista Bear for the occasion. Customers can also purchase exclusive merchandise made in collaboration with Bernardaud and Bialetti.

Starbucks celebrates 25 years of coffee, connections and community in Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks celebrates 25 years of coffee, connections and community in Korea

Starbucks marks 25 years in Korea, with over 23,000 green apron partners (employees) delivering the iconic Starbucks Experience in over 1,900 stores

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2024/starbucks-celebrates-25-years-of-coffee-connections-and-community-in-korea/

Starbucks Korea marks the 10th year of its partnership with JA Korea in providing career education. Since the program began in 2015, over 1,900 Starbucks partners have volunteered after completing specialized training courses. These volunteers have visited approximately 546 vocational high schools nationwide, serving as career mentors to over 18,000 students.

Celebrating a decade of its career education program, Starbucks Korea resumed its in-person opportunity fair aimed at vocational high school students to improve youth employment opportunities. The event, which took place on April 30, welcomed 300 students from 27 vocational high schools across Seoul and the Gyeonggi region. This marked a return to an in-person format following the switch to online events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The opportunity fair provided a variety of hands-on sessions designed to assist the students in their job-seeking activities after graduation. These sessions were made possible by a portion of profits from the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2024/starbucks-korea-announces-its-8th-community-store-to-bolster-youth-employment-initiatives/">Jongno R Community Store</a>. Activities included resume review, photo shoots, personalized image consulting for interview preparation, and barista experience activity.

The fair also featured presentation skills training to enhance the students' employment capabilities and facilitate job connections, including a "Starbucks Barista Mock Interview" led by regional district managers, a coffee seminar by Starbucks coffee ambassador, and career counseling provided by Starbucks store managers and district managers.

Starbucks Korea plans to continue hosting opportunity fairs throughout the second half of the year and will simultaneously conduct career education activities from May to September in six cities nationwide, including Seoul, Busan, and Jeju, targeting around 1,000 students. To date, Starbucks Korea has employed 401 baristas who connected through the opportunity fair. Kim Ji-young, head of Starbucks Korea's ESG team, stated, “It is meaningful to participate in the career education and future preparation of our youth. We will continue to provide assistance through various volunteer activities, ensuring that young people can experience the joy of employment success.” In January 2024, Starbucks Korea signed an agreement with JA Korea to further promote youth employment through education and barista recruitment programs. The Jongno R store, Starbucks Korea’s 8th Community Store, was opened as part of this initiative. For every item purchased at the store, 300 won is donated to support youth employment.

Starbucks Korea celebrates a decade supporting youth with JA Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Korea celebrates a decade supporting youth with JA Korea

Starbucks Korea marks the tenth year of its partnership with JA Korea in delivering career education. Since the program began in 2015, over 1,900 Starbucks partners have volunteered after completing specialized training courses. These volunteers have visited approximately 546 vocational high schools nationwide, serving as career mentors to over 18,000 students.

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/29/2024/05/Korea-April30_Opportunity-Fair-with-JA-2-1024x683.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2024/starbucks-korea-celebrates-decade-supporting-youth-with-ja-korea/

Starbucks Korea dedicated Starbucks Jongno R as its eighth Community Store, marking a continued commitment to enhance youth employment, on January 9th. A portion of proceeds from this store will be donated to Junior Achievement Korea (JA Korea) to create pathways to opportunities for young people.&nbsp;

Lee Eun-Hyung, CEO of JA Korea, stated, "I am delighted to join Starbucks Korea in this meaningful community store project, a step forward from our eight-year collaboration in youth skill-building program," and " we are committed to making the 8th Community Store a beacon of hope for young people in the local community.”

Ryan Sohn, CEO of Starbucks Korea, said, "This collaboration, which now extends to include vocational high school students and other young community members in need, represents a significant expansion of our youth employment support efforts. We are dedicated to empowering more youth through this new Community Store, helping them to design and grow a bright future.”

The Starbucks skill-building education programs operated with JA Korea will be expanded from teenagers to include community college students and underserved groups in various regions. The program will also include Opportunity Fairs, offering lectures and experiential learning programs including resume photo shooting, personal assessment, barista job counseling, and mock interviews.

Partnering since 2015, Starbucks and JA Korea have jointly developed career education and employment programs, impacting over 20,000 vocational high school students nationwide. This partnership has enabled 470 youth to embark on careers as Starbucks baristas.

Starbucks Korea announces its eighth Community Store to bolster youth employment initiatives : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Korea announces its eighth Community Store to bolster youth employment initiatives

Starbucks Korea dedicated Starbucks Jongno R as its eighth Community Store, marking a continued commitment to enhance youth employment, on January 9th. A portion of proceeds from this store will be donated to Junior Achievement Korea (JA Korea) to create pathways to opportunities for young people.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2024/starbucks-korea-announces-its-8th-community-store-to-bolster-youth-employment-initiatives/

On November 7, Starbucks Vietnam marked a significant milestone in its 10-year journey in the market with the inauguration of its first Community Store. The Nguyen Huu Huan store not only celebrates the company's decade-long presence but also a continued commitment to social impact.

The Community Store is dedicated to supporting youth vocational education in Vietnam, with 3,000 VND (approximately $0.12 USD) per beverage sold at the store contributing to training programs with nonprofit partner REACH over the next three years. This store is part of a global initiative to strengthen communities, support economic opportunities, and create impact through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.

“Over the past 10 years, Starbucks Vietnam has sought to fulfill our brand promise to uplift the everyday for customers, while contributing positively to our communities," said Ho Mai Ho, general manager of Starbucks Vietnam. "This Community Store is an extension of this promise, and we look forward to supporting the youth of Vietnam through this store," he added. 

The Starbucks Nguyen Huu Huan Community Store will support REACH, which provides the most vulnerable youth with vocational training, skills, and employment opportunities to build a better future for themselves and their families. With grant funding from The Starbucks Foundation, Starbucks Vietnam first partnered with REACH, in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, in 2016 to provide vocational training, career advice, and job placement services in the food and beverage industry (F&amp;B) for young people in Vietnam. Starbucks Vietnam partners (employees) volunteered to help mentor youth, and plan to continue volunteering with REACH's future cohorts.

“REACH is sincerely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Starbucks on its inaugural community store in Vietnam. With a rich history spanning 15 years, REACH has been a catalyst for positive change, empowering countless disadvantaged young individuals to reshape their futures through high-quality vocational training programs, successful job placements, and sustained support post-graduation,” said Pham Thi Thanh Tam, Founder and Executive Chief of REACH. “We hope that with the support from this Community Store, we will be able to extend educational and employment opportunities to even more marginalized youth, and contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of Vietnam,” she added.

The store draws inspiration from our iconic Pike Place Market store in Seattle, honoring our heritage as it finds its home in Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter. With an emphasis on our partnership with REACH, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering disadvantaged youth through vocational training, the store proudly showcases a mural and artwork by local artists Nguyễn Tấn Lực and Trang Nhơn Khoah that convey the message of coffee, connection, and community.

The store offers a warm and inviting ambiance, thoughtfully designed to accommodate youth programs and workshops. Open daily, customers can enjoy their favorite Starbucks beverages and menu items while immersing themselves in an uplifting and inspiring environment that nurtures both personal growth and meaningful connections.

Starbucks Vietnam opens first Community Store

Starbucks Vietnam opens first Community Store dedicated to youth vocational education : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Vietnam opens first Community Store dedicated to youth vocational education

Starbucks Vietnam marked a significant milestone in its 10-year journey in the market with the inauguration of its first Community Store.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2023/starbucks-vietnam-opens-first-community-store-dedicated-to-youth-vocational-education/