StarBuck's Hoax
Every so ofter I keep seeing this Starbuck's (or Target) hoax pop up.
Here is the information that this is a HOAX:
But don't just believe me, check it out for yourself!!
Here is a Link to the WebSite I took it from @ HoakBusters:
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/cgi-bin/mfs/www/hoaxbusters/archive?link=http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&file=/www/hoaxbusters/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&line=4080#mfs
Starbucks Coffee From a U.S. Marine
June 2005
I've been seeing this one for about a year now, and it is very similar to the Target and Vietnam Veterans hoax. All big companies I have looked at have a defined giving program to donate money to worthy causes. However, no company can hope to support every good cause that comes their way. Most companies pick a few well defined causes and put most of their donations behind those instead of trying to give a little bit to everone. Just because they do not donate to your particular pet cause does not mean that they believe it is unworthy of support.
The following letter was received from Starbucks. It explains their giving program and includes a letter from the writer of the original letter that turned into the rumor.
January 11, 2005
Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military
personnel. We are extremely grateful to the men and women who serve
stateside and overseas. We sincerely respect that they are willing to
risk their lives. Starbucks employs approximately 80 U.S. partners
(employees) who serve in the military and are currently on active duty.
In support of their efforts, Starbucks provides a military allowance to
make up the difference between their military pay and their pay level at
Starbucks before they went on leave. The partner can continue health
coverage, and family health coverage, if enrolled, for up to 18 months.
Additionally, partners are guaranteed a position upon return from active
duty, except in rare circumstances, as permitted under the Federal
Military Leave Laws.
Starbucks, our customers, and our partners believe that it is critically
important to support U.S. men and women serving their country in times
of conflict. Starbucks and its partners have consistently demonstrated
their support of military personnel in a number of ways. Each week
Starbucks partners receive one free pound of coffee. On an individual,
grass roots level, many partners in the U. S. have collected their free
coffee and shipped numerous pounds of Starbucks coffee overseas. As an
example of this generosity, partners in our Atascadero, California store
sent their personal weekly allotment of coffee to troops in Afghanistan
so they would be able to enjoy a little taste of home. Additionally, our
customer relations department in Seattle donated hundreds of pounds of
coffee to the sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier.
These are just two of the many examples of our partners supporting the
American troops. We are humbled that the troops request our coffee. We
recognize and appreciate the very personal connection customers have
with us and how they might miss their Starbucks Experience while serving
overseas. A comprehensive list of our support of military personnel
follows the text of this statement.
To enhance our U.S. partners' outstanding grassroots efforts in support
of the U.S. military troops, Starbucks is honored and pleased to extend
our relationship with the American Red Cross in order to provide more
coffee to relief efforts during times of conflict. In November 2004,
Starbucks donated 50,000 lbs of coffee to the American Red Cross for
distribution to those troops serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
The Company is making this contribution through the American Red Cross
as part of its long-term, ongoing commitment to share the comfort of
coffee during times of crisis, such as during the Florida hurricanes in
summer 2004.
Starbucks has a long history of contributing product, time and funding
to a wide variety of local, national and international non-profit
organizations. Through several partner programs, such as Make Your Mark
and Choose to Give, the Company supports the efforts of its partners who
give their time through matching monetary donations based on the number
of hours contributed, primarily to nonprofit organizations that are
designated as public charities under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code.
To further demonstrate Starbucks support of military personnel,
Starbucks recently responded to an e-mail circulating on the internet
that contained misinformation about Starbucks. The Company contacted its
author, a Marine Sergeant, who subsequently sent an e-mail to his
original distribution list correcting his mistake, the text of which is:
"Dear Readers,
Almost 5 months ago I sent an e-mail to you my faithful friends. I did
a wrong thing that needs to be cleared up. I heard by word of mouth
about how Starbucks said they didn't support the war and all.
I was having enough of that kind of talk and didn't do my research
properly like I should have. This is not true.
Starbucks supports men and women in uniform. They have personally
contacted me and I have been sent many copies of their company's policy
on this issue. So I apologize for this quick and wrong letter that I
sent out to you.
Now I ask that you all pass this email around to everyone you passed the
last one to.
Thank you very much for understanding about this.
Howard C. Wright
Sgt USMC
1st Force Rcon Co
1st Plt PLT RTO
-------------------------------------
Again, please visit the Hoax Busters website through this link to read for yourself:
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/cgi-bin/mfs/www/hoaxbusters/archive?link=http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&file=/www/hoaxbusters/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&line=4080#mfs
Thanks,
David