STARBUCKS - This was just passed along to me and I pass it along to you.
--Mike
Dear everyone: Please pass this along to anyone you know, this needs to get out in the open.
Recently Marines over in Iraq supporting this country in OIF wrote to Starbucks because they wanted to let them know how much they liked their coffee and try to score some free coffee grounds. Starbucks wrote back telling the Marines thanks for their support in their business, but that they don't support the War and anyone in it and that they won't send them the coffee.
So as not to offend them, we should not support in buying any Starbucks products. As a War vet and writing to you patriots, I feel we should get this out in the open. I know this War might not be very popular with some folks, but that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground fighting street to street and house to house for what they and I believe is right. If you feel the same as I do then pass this along, or you can discard it and I'll never know.
Thanks very much for your support to me, and I know you'll all be there again here soon when I deploy once more.
Semper Fidelis,
Sgt Howard C. Wright
1st Force Recon Co
1st Plt PLT RTO
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 1:23 PM
Subject: Starbucks Inquiry
From: "Customer Relations"
To: "Sullivan, Suzanne"
Subject: Starbucks Inquiry
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 05:57:19 -0700
Dear Ms. Sullivan,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Starbucks regarding coffee donations to those serving in our armed forces.
Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel. We are extremely grateful to the men and women who serve stateside or overseas. We sincerely appreciate that they are willing to risk their lives to protect Americans and our values of freedom and democracy. While Starbucks as a company cannot directly donate to military personnel, many of our partners (employees) show their support by donating coffee.
Recently, there was an e-mail circulating the internet that contained misinformation about Starbucks and our support of the military. Starbucks was able to locate the author who turned out to be a Marine Sergeant. He was very grateful that we contacted him and apologized for any misunderstanding, as he did not intend to spread the rumor. He subsequently sent an e-mail to his original distribution list correcting his mistake, which I've included at the end of this letter.
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify Starbucks policy regarding charitable contributions. We are able to donate to nonprofit organizations that are designated as public charities under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code, including public libraries and schools. The U.S. military or individual military personnel do not qualify as a public charity.
Additionally, confirmation that this is a rumor can be found at
http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/starbucks2.htm
and at
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/starbucks.asp .
On an individual level, many Starbucks partners have collected and shipped numerous pounds of Starbucks coffee overseas to our troops. Starbucks partners receive one pound of free coffee each week as an employee benefit (known as "partner mark-out"). Many of our partners have elected to send their weekly mark-out of coffee to members of the military or military families, and related organizations.
As an example of this generosity, our partners in our Atascadero, California store sent their weekly mark out coffee to troops in Afghanistan so they are able to enjoy a little piece of home. Our customer relations department in Seattle donated hundreds of pounds of coffee to the sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group. These are just a few examples of our partners supporting the troops. We recognize and appreciate the very personal connection that customers have with us and how they might miss their Starbucks Experience while overseas.
Thank you again for writing and ask you to accept our deepest appreciation to servicemen and women and hope you remain a valued Starbucks customer. If you have any additional feedback or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact us at (800) 235-2883 or email us at info@starbucks.com
Sincerely,
Matthew
Customer Relations Representative
Starbucks Coffee Company
============================================
Text of Sgt. Wright's Clarification Email:
Dear Readers,
Almost 5 months ago I sent an e-mail to you my faithful friends. I did a wrong thing that needs to be cleared up. I heard by word of mouth about how Starbucks said they didn't support the war and all. I was having enough of that kind of talk and didn't do my research properly like I should have. This is not true. Starbucks does support men and women in uniform.
They have personally contacted me and I have been sent many copies of their company's policy on this issue. So I apologize for this quick and wrong letter that I sent out to you.
Now I ask that you all pass this email around to everyone you passed the last one to. Thank you very much for understanding about this.
Howard C. Wright
Sgt USMC
1st Force Rcon Co
1st Plt PLT RTO
The original email from Sgt Wright.
For those of you that dont have the honor and privilege to know Sue Sullivan, let me tell you she is one hundred percent Marine. She makes me proud to know her and call her friend.
She read a letter being sent around on the web about Starbucks and their refusal to send Marines in Iraq any coffee. Sue took the initiative and wrote to Starbucks and sent them a copy of the letter. It turns out Starbucks does support the military overseas and hold them in high regard.
I have included Sue's letter, the Starbucks response, a letter from the Marine Sergeant stating his new position and the original letter that was being sent around the internet.
The Sergeant says he was given the wrong information about this issue. I hold him in very high respect. How many of us are willing to admit we were wrong? I have trouble with this, but not this Marine. God bless him and I know the Corps is in good hands with people like him.
--Mike Bardunias
