Coffee with a Cause: Green Coffee Auction Raises $100K to Save Lives in Developing Countries

June 22, 2012 - PRLog -- Now in its fourth year, the annual Grounds for Health Green Coffee Auction raised $100,100 to help prevent cervical cancer in coffee-growing communities. Forty-four coffee importers and producers from around the globe donated bags of green coffee, which was then auctioned off during an online event on June 5-6.

“With coffee prices at rock-bottom prices, we didn’t know what to expect,” Communications Specialist Justin Mool said. “The fact that we managed to hit our goal is a(?) testament to the high quality of the donated coffee and to the commitment of the 133 bidders. Our deepest gratitude goes out to all those who participated.”

Grounds for Health has been establishing community-driven, locally sustainable programs to prevent cervical cancer in rural coffee-growing areas since 1996. Over the past 16 years, Grounds for Health programs have been responsible for screening more than 34,000 women for this deadly yet preventable disease.

As Grounds for Health’s largest fundraiser, the coffee auction is essential to ensuring women in rural regions of coffee-growing countries continue to receive the preventive care that could save their lives.

The top donors in this year’s auction were Royal Coffee, Inc whose coffee earned $25,315.13, Royal Coffee NY ($6,985.97), InterAmerican Coffee ($6,525.35), Zephyr Coffee ($4,563.60), and Descafeinadores Mexicanos, S.A. ($4,100.68). Some notable donations include Royal Coffee, Inc’s Panama Baby Geisha that sold for $30.20/lb, a Kona from Lions Gates Farms that went for $50/lb and a bag of Guatemala Finca El Injerto that fetched $23.09/lb.

“As a farmer, I feel very connected to other coffee regions around the globe,” remarks Suzanne Shriner of Lions Gate Farms, who has donated coffee since 2011. “I see the challenges of health care in rural areas even here in the Kona region. The work that Grounds for Health does in the coffee community helps more than just families.  It helps all of us in the coffee world who depend on farmers for our livelihood. I am proud to be a Grounds for Health supporter.”


Also key to the success of this year’s auction was the enthusiastic participation of more than 130 bidders. After the auction, the winners have a chance to take the coffee and create a promotional campaign to raise even more funds for Grounds for Health and become recognized donors. David Borton of BoldJava, who sells green coffee to home-roasters, used his winnings to create a pledge drive among his customers.

“My whole effort is to raise the consciousness, the awareness within the home-roaster coffee community,” Borton said. “We are drinking great coffees ‘on the backs’ of other people.  Let's do something about that bit-by-bit so they can be more self-determinative. Education and awareness are the critical keys.  Grounds for Health is building the momentum.”

One hundred percent of proceeds from the auction benefits Grounds for Health and its ongoing work preventing cervical cancer in coffee-growing communities. For more information about the auction and to view the final results visit: http://auction.groundsforhealth.org. To learn about Grounds for Health visit: http://www.groundsforhealth.org or visit on Facebook: http://facebook.com/groundsforhealth and Twitter: http://twitter.com/grounds4health.

About Grounds for Health
Grounds for Health is a 501(c)(3) organization that establishes sustainable and effective cervical cancer prevention and treatment programs in coffee-growing communities. Founded by a member of the coffee industry, the organization’s goal is to decrease the rate of cervical cancer in coffee regions. Grounds for Health was the recipient of the 2011 Sustainability Award from the Specialty Coffee Association of America.