Argenta CDC seeking to win $15,000 from Starbucks Foundation through online voting

April 4, 2012 - PRLog -- (North Little Rock, Ark.) - Argenta Community Development Corporation, a humanitarian organization with a 501 (c) 3 designation, was one of 124 groups in the country selected by Starbucks Foundation to receive funding from their new Community Card: Vote. Give. Grow Campaign. This giving initiative allows registered Starbucks card holders to go online and vote for chosen organizations once each week throughout April. In Arkansas, Argenta CDC was one of two local charities chosen.

Two years in the making, Starbucks Foundation worked closely with a research firm to identify organizations across the country that met the program's criteria, primarily a commitment to serving and meeting the needs of the community.  Over 1,700 nonprofits were included in the original list that was narrowed to the current 124 with input from local Starbucks employees from their respective areas.

In total, Starbucks Foundation will award $4 million. All chosen organizations will receive funding. The smallest award is $5,000 and the largest is $50,000. Argenta CDC can receive up to $15,000 based on votes.  The maximum award sizes were determined by the number of Starbucks corporate stores in a region or state.
“We are honored to have been recognized for our work on the national level by the Starbucks Foundation, and more importantly,  by local Starbucks employees who have an opportunity to see what we do up close, possibly benefit from our services or even lend their time as volunteers,” says Mary Beth Bowman, Argenta CDC executive director.

“This funding will play a role in the delivery of our core programs of building and constructing energy-efficient homes for working class families, homeownership counseling and financial literacy to new outreach initiatives including a youth and academic focused urban farm. We encourage people to turn their Starbucks cards into ‘community’ cards and help us continue to transform lives and neighborhoods.”

For those who do not have a card, they can pick up one at any Starbucks location, load at least $5 on the card and register it at www.vote.give.grow.  Complete details can be found at www.argentacdc.org.

About Argenta Community Development Corporation
Argenta CDC's mission is to improve the economic vitality, quality of life, and sense of community in targeted neighborhoods through the development of quality housing, the promotion of homeownership and the stimulation of economic growth through single and multi-family energy-efficient housing development, commercial property development, a nationally recognized homeownership center, urban farming and community building and engagement.