Can this cup change America? (more than it already has...)

Have you heard? Starbucks is teaming up with the Opportunity Finance Network in the Create Jobs for U.S.A. program. The program "will provide capital grants to select Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The CDFIs will provide financing to underserved community businesses which include small business loans, community center financing, housing project financing and microfinance."

You can donate at your local Starbucks or online starting on November 1. And no, I am not getting any free mochas from Starbucks for writing about this! I just like the idea of a big American company helping small American businesses. Microfinance right here at home.

(of course, Kiva does this, as well, but most of their work is outside of the US... Do you know of other ways that Everyday Joe's like you and me can make donations to support small businesses? In addition to "buying American"?)

Free Coffee for You!

Not that Starbucks needs any more publicity in this lifetime, but...

I saw their get out the vote commercial this weekend, and I loved it. To quote the commercial (which you also can watch on their web site):

What if we all cared enough to vote?
Not just 54% of us, but 100% of us?
What if we all cared as much on Nov. 5th as we did on Nov. 4th?
What if we cared all of the time, the way we care some of the time?
What if we cared if it was incovenient, as much as we care when it's convenient?
Would your community be a better place?
Would our country be a better place?
Would our world be a better place?
We think so too.

Starbucks is giving a FREE CUP OF BREWED COFFEE to anyone who votes on Nov. 4th. So go VOTE, and then go treat yourself to a caffeine fix!