WATERBURY, VT (August 1, 2008) - Green Mountain Coffee is holding its second annual car wash to raise funds and awareness for Grounds for Health, an international nonprofit based in Waterbury that provides health care services for women in coffee-growing communities. The event will be held on August 6, 2008 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the Green Mountain Coffee Visitor Center and Café at the Waterbury Train Station.
The free car wash will be hosted by Green Mountain Coffee in partnership with Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. Attendees will enjoy free ice cream and receive coupons for free coffee. Local band The Growlers will provide a rocking soundtrack to the event, and there will be raffle drawings for local products and gift certificates donated by Waterbury-area businesses. Ben & Jerry’s will also donate $1.00 to Grounds for Health from every Cappachillo® sold at its Waterbury Scoop Shop and Visitor Center on August 6.
While the car wash will be free, attendees are invited to make donations to Grounds for Health. These funds will support the organization’s mission to create sustainable and effective cancer prevention programs, with a focus on the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer -- a leading cause of death among women who lack access to healthcare in developing countries. Grounds for Health was founded by members of the specialty coffee industry who discovered that women in Mexico and Central America have high rates of cervical cancer, which is preventable and treatable if caught early.
This year, Grounds for Health introduced a new, innovative technique for screening and treatment based on research by the Gates Foundation, endorsed by the World Health Organization, and adopted by a growing number of countries around the world. As important as the campaigns themselves, Grounds for Health’s training program brings long-term benefits to local communities by teaching local medical providers to provide this crucial care to women in the community long after the campaigns end, In the coming months, Grounds for Health will take its cervical cancer prevention and treatment campaigns to new coffee-growing communities in Nicaragua and Tanzania, in respective partnerships with Project Hope and the Jane Goodall Institute.
“Green Mountain Coffee has been an instrumental partner for us since our inception in 1996,” says August Burns, Executive Director of Grounds for Health. “The company’s continued support makes it possible for us to achieve our mission of improving women’s health – and their quality of life -- in coffee farming communities.”
Last year, Green Mountain Coffee volunteers and local residents raised over $7,000 for Grounds for Health. This year, the goal is to raise $10,000 for the organization. With over 60 volunteers signed up, organizers are optimistic that this year’s event will succeed in raising awareness and funds for Grounds for Health, while providing a fun-filled celebration for the Waterbury community.
About Grounds for Health
Grounds for Health is a nonprofit organization based in Waterbury, Vermont. The organization was founded by members of the specialty coffee industry in 1996 to address the lack of access to basic health care services for women in coffee-growing communities. Grounds for Health focuses on the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in women in developing countries. By partnering with coffee companies, medical communities and local coffee co-operatives, Grounds for Health works to create locally managed, sustainable and effective cervical cancer prevention and treatment programs.
About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is recognized as a leader in the specialty coffee industry for its award-winning coffees, innovative brewing technology and socially responsible business practices. GMCR, Inc. maintains two business divisions. Its Green Mountain Coffee division sells more than 100 high-quality coffee selections, including Fair Trade Certified™ organic coffees, under the Green Mountain Coffee® and Newman’s Own® Organics brands through its wholesale, direct mail and e-commerce operations (www.GreenMountainCoffee.com). Green Mountain Coffee also produces its coffee as well as hot cocoa and tea in K-Cup® portion packs for Keurig® single-cup brewers. Keurig, Incorporated, also a wholly-owned subsidiary of GMCR, Inc., is a pioneer and leading manufacturer of gourmet single-cup brewing systems. Keurig markets its patented brewers and K-Cups® through wholesale, retail and direct channels (www.Keurig.com). K-Cups are produced by a variety of licensed roasters including Green Mountain Coffee. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. has been recognized repeatedly by CRO Magazine, Forbes and SustainableBusiness.com as a good corporate citizen and an innovative, high-growth company.
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