Tag Archives: specialtycoffee

JavaJog for a Cause Takes Hiatus in 2018; Restructures for Event in 2019

Founders of JavaJog for a Cause, the fun run and fundraiser benefitting women in coffee growing communities around the world, have announced that the annual event will take a hiatus in 2018, but will return in 2019 at EXPO in Boston.

“Since our first event in 2013, JavaJog fun runs have raised nearly $100,000 for projects that benefit women in coffee farming communities around the world,” explains Kimberly Easson, who co-founded JavaJog with Beth Ann Caspersen and Aimee Russillo in 2013. “JavaJog has significantly grown  in size and impact since the first event in Boston in 2013. As it’s impact continues to make its mark throughout the world, it has become apparent that there is a need to take a year off to build the infrastructure to support the project’s goals, and to ensure all stakeholders receive maximum benefit from the fundraiser.”

JavaJog founders are gratified at the support shown by the global coffee community for JavaJog since the first run in Boston in 2013. The success of past events have counted on an outpouring of support from many sponsors, fundraisers, on-site volunteers, grant review committee volunteers, coffee providers, runners, walkers, press/media support and more.

“You are all the heart of JavaJog, and we are deeply indebted to you,” says Easson. Special mentions go out to JavaJog host Marcus Boni; top fundraisers Elizabeth Goldblatt, Boot Coffee, Baratza; and all of our sponsors (especially our platinum sponsors Westrock, Metad and Starbucks); star volunteers especially Laura Everage, Charlene Farmer and the Russillo family in Seattle; and the team from Run for Good Racing Company.

 

For more information, or to help with the planning of JavaJog 2019, email javajog@gmail.com.

Find details about the grant recipients and how they’ve used JavaJog funds at www.javajog.org

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JavaJog 2017 Award Recipients Announced!

$18,000 to be shared across three innovative projects that support coffee farming women in Nicaragua, Rwanda, and Ecuador 

After much deliberation, the JavaJog Grant Review Committee selected three projects to receive funds collected through the 2017 Seattle race. The projects support the creation of an organic farmers market in Nicaragua, a coffee seedling nursery in Rwanda, and a coffee processing and distribution center in Ecuador.

The 2017 Grant Review Committee recommended the allocation in funds in line with JavaJog’s Grant Protocol, which requires separation of the project review and evaluation process from the JavaJog Organizing Committee. The members of this year’s committee were: Charlene Lewey of King Arthur Flour (formerly of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters), Ben Schmerler of Root Capital and Katherine Nolte of Sucafina. The proposals are scored along six key criteria.

JavaJog 2017 is please to recognize the three winners!

  • In Nicaragua, the SOPPEXCCA coffee cooperative is embarking on an ambitious new venture: to bring organic vegetables and fruit grown by women cooperative members to the residents of Jinotega, Nicaragua. This first-ever organic farmers market, run by SOPPEXCCA, will provide a healthier alternative for the 100,000 people living in the area, while delivering opportunities for coffee farmers to diversify income and improve nutrition for their own families. JavaJog has allocated $7500 to Food 4 Farmers to implement this project in partnership with SOPPEXCCA.
  • The Rusave Coffee Cooperative in Rwanda will receive $5096, to work in collaboration with The Kula Project to build a seedling nursery to house and cultivate 35,000 coffee tree seedlings, and distribute coffee trees to 150 women coffee farmers, as well as provide agricultural training on the planting and maintenance of coffee trees.
  • In Chaucha, Ecuador,  El Grupo de Mujeres (EGM) or ‘The Women’s Group’ aims to increase the economic resiliency of the residents by supporting a collaborative, community-wide and women-led project of income generation and job creation. JavaJog has awarded $5404 to The Chain Collaborative (TCC) to support EGM to build a processing and distribution center for quality coffee that will provide farming income to residents of Chaucha and surrounding communities and build job security for women and youth for years to come.

The 2017 JavaJog was made possible by the support of generous sponsors: especially our Platinum Sponsor, Metad and Gold Sponsor, Baratza.  Other sponsors included: Equal Exchange, Cascade (Silver), and Marco, Equator Coffee and InterAmerican Coffee (Bronze).  Sponsorships cover 100% of the costs for the race and a professional race organizer to ensure a high quality experience for the participants.  This way, 100% of race registrations and funds raised can go directly to the JavaJog cause of supporting the efforts of coffee farming women around the world.

More than 120 runners and walkers gathered along the shore of Lake Union on Friday, April 21st for 5K and 10K races. In all, race registrations, individual fundraising efforts (top fundraisers were Elizabeth Goldblatt ($3315), Baratza ($1425) and Kimberly Easson ($900)), and a generous $3000 contribution by Starbucks brought the total amount of funds to be awarded to $18,000.

JavaJog will be providing progress reports on the projects as they get underway.

Thank you everyone for your hard work to make this possible!

Stay tuned for more details about the 2018 Race planned for Seattle Expo! 

JavaJog Goes Global!

March, 2017 – After a one year hiatus, the Java Jog for a Cause event is back in Seattle and ready to welcome coffee aficionados, runners, walkers and friends for this annual fun run and fundraiser. Since 2013 Java Jog for a Cause has raised more than $75,000 for women in coffee growing communities in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This year, Java Jog organizers are pleased to announce that the theme for the 2017 run is Global and encourages women’s groups from around the world to apply for the money that is earned through this year’s race.

“It’s so exciting to open up the grant process and broaden our scope to have a global reach,” explains co-founder Beth Ann Caspersen. “We have enjoyed such tremendous success in years past as we raised money for women in coffee growing communities. What is exciting about this year’s event is we have invited women’s groups in coffee producing countries from all corners of the world to apply for our grants. All of the funds that earn from the runners go directly to the grants we award.”

Over the past 4 years, the impact of both larger and smaller grants has been tremendous — from the support of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance in the DRC, who directly supported the Tuungane cooperative to help construct their first washing station in 2014, to our grant to Girls Gotta Run in Ethiopia, which provided Athletic Scholarships for girls and micro-business grants to each of their households, while directly impacting nearly 150 family members in the Wolita coffee-growing region of Ethiopia. “We are really proud of the grants we have supported and the women’s groups that are putting the funds to great use,” adds Caspersen of their progress.

“But, she adds, “we can’t do it without you! Java Jog for a Cause needs your support.”

Here’s how can you support Java Jog for a Cause:

  • Sign up to be a runner or walker,
  • Volunteer on the day of the race: Sign up here, to help out on race day.
  • Sponsor a runner: Visit the Crowdrise site and sponsor a runner.
  • Donate to one of the fundraisers on Crowdrise
  • Give us a shout of support and spread the word on social media, @javajog, #javajog2017!

Java Jog for a Cause Race Details:

Date: Friday, April 21, 2017

Who: Anyone can participate!
Time: 7:00am 10K Run; 7:30am 5K Run and Walk
Location: South Lake Union Park (Transportation details here)
Register: To register, visit SCA Global Coffee Expo or JavaJog.org

Fundraising:  We will again work through Crowdrise to help collect donations for JavaJog 2017. Teams and individuals are encouraged to spread the word and collect donations.  Prizes will be awarded for the top three fundraisers this year. Start your fundraiser or support a runner at the JavaJog Crowdrise page