Coffee giant Starbucks is celebrating Veterans Day by serving U.S. heroes with a free tall 12-ounce brewed coffee and donating $200,000 to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project.
The global coffeehouse and roastery chain also announced plans to expand its footprint of Starbucks Military Family Stores (MFS) to 250 by 2025.
The MFS is located on or near major military bases, where it provides support to military families through veteran causes and partnerships with the Veterans Service Organizations.
The free drink, hot or iced, will be available at participating U.S. locations on Veterans Day, which is annually celebrated on November 11.
To date, Starbucks has donated more than 6 million cups of coffee to military and veteran communities, provided 80 hours of Military Service Pay, and awarded over 300 Neighborhood Grants since 2019.
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Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walt Piatt, CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, shared in a statement how Starbucks helps support "those who bravely served, including their families and caregivers:"
"Our free programs and services in mental and brain health, career counseling, benefits, physical health and wellness, advocacy and long-term rehabilitative care are changing and saving lives every day, thanks to partners like Starbucks, and generous supporters across the country.”
Leveraging the Starbucks brand to support military communities allows customers to connect with a cause they care about.
Creating social responsibility initiatives also helps build its corporate reputation, positioning Starbucks as a values-driven brand.
Continually Supporting National Heroes
Starbucks partnered with several Veteran Service Organizations to give military communities a boost and give veterans a “renewed purpose through continued service opportunities.”
These partnerships include:
- Blue Star Families: Starbucks reached over 26,000 military families through hundreds of military-spouse coffee connects and programs designed to address family issues such as isolation and food insecurity.
- Elizabeth Dole Foundation: This partnership aims to provide education and community support to military caregivers.
- Operation Gratitude: Starbucks has impacted over 625,000 individuals through letter-writing campaigns, care package assemblies, and in-kind donations.
- The Mission Continues: This partnership focuses on boosting veterans with leadership and skill-building opportunities, impacting more than 16,000 Veterans.
- Travis Manion Foundation: Through this partnership, Starbucks provides community service and leadership development to veterans and the families of those who lost their lives in action.
- Wounded Warrior Project: This partnership focuses on awareness and program funding aimed at helping veterans overcome challenges related to their service.
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In total, Starbucks has hired more than 40,000 military veterans and military spouses since 2013.
This Veterans Day campaign shows Starbucks' commitment to its mission, which states "With every cup, with every conversation, with every community — we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection."
Meanwhile, a new DesignRush study ranked Hawaii as the top U.S. state for veteran financial stability due to its strong job market, high-income opportunities, and low unemployment rates.
