Starbucks Foundation Donates $25K to TAFB

STARBUCKS DONATES $25,000 TO TAFB to Support Culinary Training Program

Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) is excited to announce that the Starbucks Foundation has provided a $25,000 grant to support TAFB’s culinary training program. Each year, TAFB trains approximately 30 new chefs and equips them with the necessary skills to maintain competitive employment in the culinary industry.

“We are proud to support TAFB’s efforts to create economic opportunities for young people in our community through their job readiness and culinary training programs,” said John Kelly, senior vice president for Starbucks Global Public Affairs and Social Impact. “This work forms a key part of our strategy to invest in organizations that are implementing proven, as well as innovative, solutions to help youth get the skills and training they need to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Our Starbucks partners (employees) in Fort Worth look forward to working with TAFB to serve our community.”

For the past 10 years, TAFB has led a successful culinary training program that has placed nearly 300 aspiring chefs into professional jobs in the culinary field. TAFB Executive Director Bo Soderbergh says this is the first time the organization has received a grant from the Starbucks Foundation.

“We’re so thankful because our culinary program is one that changes lives. The funds contributed by the Starbucks Foundation will allow us to provide skills-based training that leads to full-time employment for our students.”

The Starbucks Foundation provided the grant through its Opportunity for All initiative. In total, 41 nonprofits in 27 U.S. cities were awarded a portion of $1.41 million. On top of the grant, some 30 Starbucks employees will also volunteer at TAFB on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017 from 8:30 a.m.-noon and help the TAFB Community Kitchen team get everything ready to start training a new class of chefs on Aug. 28.