FOUNDING PARTNERS
Once in a while something comes along that can truly make a difference on a global scale. Your support of The International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA) can be that something. Founded in 2003 by Karen Cebreros, Melissa Pugash, Colleen Crosby, Karen Gordon, Margaret Swallow and Kimberly Easson, over the past four years, the IWCA has striven and succeeded in creating a difference in the world of coffee.
The coffee industry is one of the largest employers in the world. According to the World Bank, over 500 million people, approximately 8% of the world population, is dependent on coffee for their livelihood. Historically, living and working conditions for coffee workers have not been idyllic. In an effort to make improvements, the specialty coffee industry has made significant contributions to coffee communities throughout the developing world. Positive spirit, hard work and bilateral cooperation on an individual basis has brought about real change.
The IWCA is proud to be part of that success. Proceeds from our annual Women in Coffee Breakfast and Scavenger Hunt held in conjunction with the annual Specialty Coffee Association of America conference allowed IWCA to fund such worthwhile endeavors as the Freeplay Lifeline Rwanda project to provide self-powered radios to farmers in Rwanda. The Cafe Feminino project helping 200 women in Peru to expand the type and quantity of vegetables grown. This provided nutritious foods to supplement their diet. More important, the women anticipate growing a surplus to create trade and a sustainable and expanded economic basis for women the coffee farmers. Cup for Education, which builds schools and supplies books in coffee producing countries. Grounds for Health, which provides cancer vaccines for women. And finally Coffee Kids which has helped thousands of children, women, and men in coffee-producing regions in Mexico and Central America to improve the quality of their lives and build more sustainable communities. It is our goal to continue that work and impact the lives over one million women and their families in all levels of the coffee industry over the next ten years, but we need help.
Our members are highly committed. They participate in such committees as Communications, International Relations, Sponsorship, Marketing and Communications, Membership, Events, Finance, and Training and Education. Our membership is also growing as indicated by the newly formed Costa Rica chapter led by board member Grace Mena. We are in the process of creating chapters around the globe.
Because the needs are so great, IWCA is also creating and funding direct projects at origin to make a significant difference in the lives of coffee producer’s families. Our goal is to impact over one million women by 2016. To achieve this goal IWCA must continue to build our web network and management systems, purchase equipment and supplies, and hire a CEO who would represent us at international coffee events and on the hill.
The IWCA, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, is seeking seven Founding Partners to help in our endeavors. As a founding partner your company would contribute $25,000 tax deductible dollars. As a founding partner, you would forever be listed on our website along with your logo and a link to your own webpage. Founding partners will also receive recognition in our newsletter, press releases and be included on our letterhead. An IWCA founding partner logo will be provided for your website if you choose to use it.