Ethiopia Reads is a non-profit organization with the goal of creating a reading culture for children in Ethiopia.  They build libraries, and help bring books to children.  They sound like a perfect organization for Starbucks to partner with!  Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and getting children into reading is always a great goal!  Wouldn’t it be great to see them featured on the Starbucks Digital Network?

A Starbucks partner in Texas wrote to me recently and said that Starbucks partners in her local area were working with Ethiopia Reads to raise $10,000 to build a library. Here’s what she wrote:

“I wanted to find out if you can help spread the message of our a silent auction that we are hosting in an effort to raise $10,000 so that we can build a library in Ethiopia! Ethiopia is the “birthlace of coffee” and this is a great way for us to give back. ‘Ethiopia Reads’,a 501c nonprofit organization, set up a Starbucks fundraising page set up to help us reach our goal. A donation as little as $2 can help support our literacy cause! “

Part of the fund raising is coming from a silent auction, and of course some donations come directly through the “donate now” link on the EthiopiaReads/Starbucks page:

http://www.ethiopiareads.org/starbucks

I definitely think this is a very cool partnership, and I’d like to help spread the word.  I don’t know if there are any Starbucks matching funds for partner donations, but whether you’re a partner or a customer, if you can make a donation, I hope you will do so.  I made a small donation.  I realize that not everyone can give, but I must have at least a few readers who can.

So I just wanted shine a spotlight on some good things that partners are doing, and hope that Starbucks will find a way to grow their relationship with this non-profit.

Consider this, by the way, as your most recent episode of  “From the StarbucksMelody.com mailbag.”

Please share!