Caribou Coffee stores nationwide have gone pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the company’s sixteen-year-old Amy’s Blend program – created to honor beloved Caribou Coffee roastmaster, Amy Erickson, who passed after a hard-fought battle with the disease.
Today, Amy’s Blend remains at the center of Caribou Coffee’s philanthropic efforts, as the company donates 10 percent of all Amy’s Blend product proceeds to Susan G. Komen for a Cure ®. All Amy’s Blend products can be purchased in-stores or online at www.CaribouCoffee.com, and include:
- Amy’s Blend Coffee Beans and Tea Tins
- Amy’s Blend Scarf
- Amy’s Blend Tumbler
- Amy’s Blend To-Go Cup
- Amy’s Tea Latte Fusion (in-store only)
Extending the mission
In 2010 Caribou Coffee took Amy’s Blend to the next level by bringing the program to life with a concept called Amy’s Garden. “We took Amy’s favorite flower – the tulip – and combined it with the symbolic pink color of breast cancer awareness,” said Caribou Coffee CEO, Mike Tattersfield. “Commemorative tulip gardens were then planted in Minneapolis and Chicago, as a tribute to Amy and everyone who has or is touched by breast cancer.”
Consumers were able to go online and make a dedication on behalf of someone in their life that had been touched by breast cancer. Every tribute made resulted in a real tulip being planted at one of the Amy’s Garden sites, and in total, more than 9,000 square feet of land was planted with tulips.
Amy’s Garden goes to Washington D.C.
For the second year in a row, Caribou Coffee is partnering with Susan G. Komen to create Amy’s Garden, extending the program to Washington D.C., in addition to the two Midwest locations. “We are thrilled to bring Amy’s Garden to the nation’s capital, sharing her story with more people and widening support for Susan G. Komen,” said Tattersfield.
Similar to last year, consumers will be able to go online and submit a dedication in support of finding a cure, but now the tributes will take place on a much more visible and interactive platform – Facebook. Again, for every submission that is made online, a real tulip will be planted in Amy’s National Garden of Hope at the historic Brookside Gardens in D.C., and a message that the submitter stands with Caribou Coffee in finding a cure, will be shared with each user’s Facebook network.
An artistic vision
For the 2011-2012 Amy’s program, Caribou Coffee worked with artist Andrew Bannecker in redesigning the packing on all of the Amy’s Garden products. “Not only were we blown away by the caliber of Andrew’s work, but in talking with various artists we found he had a meaningful connection to the cause,” said Tattersfield. Bannecker, who is based out of Washington D.C. – with additional studios in New York and London – has witnessed his grandmother, mother-in-law and aunt all battle the disease.
“When Caribou Coffee approached me with this project, I didn’t hesitate at all,” said Bannecker. “I was extremely honored to be a part of a program that gives back to the community in such an important way.”
Bannecker used his passion for the cause as inspiration in designing this year’s Amy’s Blend packaging, of which pink tulips are the focus.
“When I began sketching, I thought of how flowers are usually delivered in a bouquet rather than individually; and for someone fighting breast cancer it’s the same way – the effects of the disease are always greater than that one individual,” Bannecker explained. “If you look at the tulip design on an Amy’s blend bag, you’ll see that I used a layering aspect, as the tulip petals are meant to personify individuals – a family or group of friends – supporting one another and fighting for a cure.”
Commercial landscaping company, The Brickman Group, even used Bannecker’s Amy’s Blend packaging designs as inspiration in designing this year’s third and newest Amy’s Garden in Washington D.C. “I can’t wait until the tulips bloom next spring,” said Bannecker. “It will be wonderful to see strangers brought together to enjoy something truly beautiful, in support of a truly worthy cause.”
Commercial Extension
Building on an already strong, six-year partnership with Susan G. Komen, Caribou Coffee this month launched Cup with Purpose ™ --- a new coffee blend for the commercial food service industry. Similar to Amy’s Blend, a portion of the proceeds from Cup with Purpose will benefit breast cancer research, and help Caribou Coffee reach their $200,000 donation goal for Susan G. Komen.
For more information, check out www.CaribouCoffee.com, or visit Caribou Coffee’s Facebook page and make an Amy’s Garden dedication to help Find a Cure.
Life is short. Do good.
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My Thoughts:
I was recently sent a bag of whole bean Amy's Blend coffee, as well as a tin of spiced Rooibos tea, from Caribou Coffee. Having never sampled Amy's Blend coffee or tea before I was eager to try out the tea. I love the flavor of this caffeine-free tea. This all-natural tea is a mixture of Rooibos Red Tea from South Africa, blended with just the right amount of spicy cardamon and warm cinnamon to create a velvety smooth, hot tea experience. And, knowing that each purchase of an Amy's Blend product provides 10% of all sales to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, it made it an more special experience.
Andew Bannecker is simply beautiful and eye pleasing. You can view some of Andrew's other work at cariboucoffee.com.
---BUY NOW---
You can buy Amy's Blend coffees and teas at your local Caribou Coffee shop or online. The Amy's Blend Spiced Rooibos Tea is only $7.95/tin (contains 20 sachets), and Amy's Blend Coffee is $8.95 for a 1/2 lb. bag (you choose bean--ground, whole, etc.) or $15.95 for a 1 lb. bag. Again, note that Caribou Coffee donates 10 percent of all Amy’s Blend product proceeds to Susan G. Komen for a Cure ®.
Show your support today by picking up a bag of coffee or tin of Amy's blend tea, through the month of October.
Disclosure: I was sent a sample in order to provide an honest review. The views above are mine and mine alone.
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