Starbucks supports Dubai Center for Special Needs as part of global month of service

UAE, Dubai, 18 June 2015 - Starbucks partners (employees), customers and suppliers have celebrated Starbucks’ fourth annual Global Month of Service by joining hands to renovate the facilities at the Dubai Centre for Special Needs over three days in April.

A total of 214 Starbucks partners, customers and suppliers spent an estimated 1,742 hours refurbishing interior and exterior walls, painting murals around the centre’s swimming pool and clearing the garden. Starbucks also supplied the school with interactive learning boards to enrich the overall learning experience.

The Global Month of Service is part of Starbucks’ company-wide commitment to help create flourishing neighborhoods wherever it does business. Held every April, the initiative invites partners and customers to roll up their sleeves and participate in community service projects that help create positive and sustainable change. The Dubai Centre for Special Needs renovation was one of the many projects carried out across the region, reinforcing Starbucks’ commitment to making its local communities stronger.

Commenting on the Global Month of Service activities, Regional Communications and CSR Manager for Starbucks MENA, Rana Shaheen, said: “For the fourth consecutive year, Starbucks partners set out to give back to the community and make a real difference in the lives of people who need it the most. It is an inspiring and rewarding month that we look forward to developing in the years to come. By renovating the facilities at the Dubai Centre for Special Needs, we aim to make an impact on individuals that are in need of the improvements and will benefit from the positive change which comes along with change. This year we were able to impact the lives of 180 disabled students, and we hope to see the number grow in the years to come”.

This year’s Global Month of Service saw more than 882 Starbucks partners, 244 customers and 30 local suppliers volunteer a total of 7,764 hours to participate in community service initiatives across 10 different markets: Kuwait, Qatar, KSA, UAE, Oman, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Bahrain.

Global Month of Service activities vary from city to city. Visit http://mena.starbucks.com/en/mainsection/responsibility to see how you can get involved with Starbucks in strengthening your community.