The Starbucks at 23rd and Jackson in Seattle’s Central District will become a “community store.” With support from YWCA youth, the shop will be redesigned and Starbucks will give 15 cents of every transaction to two YWCA programs: one supporting young women transitioning into high school and another for young parents.
It is the company’s fifth community store, but the first in Starbucks’ hometown of Seattle. It will join other community stores in New York City, Bangkok, Los Angeles and Houston.
The Seattle store will fund the YWCA’s Girls First Program and Young Parent Program. Girls First works with 100 students a year in Seattle middle schools as they transition into high schools. Participating teens get support from their older peers in high school and can compete for a number of paid internships at law offices and Starbucks later in their high school careers.
The Young Parents Program offers support to parents ages 15 to 25 through housing, GED assistance and life skills.
Starbucks predicts the community store will generate $100,000 in the first year for the two programs, which have a combined budget of $500,000.
It’s unknown yet how the new funding will expand the programs, said Patricia Hayden, YWCA senior director of specialized and integrated services, but that will be up to the youth.
YWCA youth will also contribute art to the new store when it is remodeled later this year.
“We’re excited to have the girls feel that this is their store,” Hayden said.
The community store will support the YWCA for at least three years, Hayden said. At that point Starbucks and the YWCA will discuss whether to continue the partnership.