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Starbucks Answers Michiana Humane Society’s YouTube Video Plea by Sponsoring a FREE, Open Event

January 11, 2011

Touched by the Michiana Humane Society’s recent YouTube video for the 2010 Project for Awesome charity contest, the Michigan City Starbucks was moved to partner on an event at the animal shelter Saturday, January 22, 2011 from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm. The event will include an offer of a FREE cup of Starbucks’ coffee, tea or hot chocolate to everyone who picks up a poster from the Michiana Humane Society (MHS) at 722 Highway 212, Michigan City, IN on that day and agrees to hang the poster in a public area (after securing permission).

Autumn Muntean, Starbucks’ Shift Supervisor and a long-time MHS volunteer, donor and adoptive parent learned about the YouTube video from Karen Coffey, MHS Director of Education and Development. Muntean immediately offered to partner with MHS by providing beverages for the event. “I’ve always wanted to be on this side of raising awareness. I am grateful that I work for a company that promotes community and allows us to help animals. It is to our advantage that we can bring people together over coffee and hot chocolate. Starbucks’ vision is to bring communities together, helping all walks of life. I am positive that with our joined efforts we will accomplish what we set out to do; help the animals who don’t have a say in the matter.” Muntean shared with Coffey. The store’s manager, Devin Gibson, concurs and fully supports his store’s commitment to the MHS generally and for this awareness-raising community event.

Coffey is excited about the upcoming event and is asking that everyone who wants to support MHS in this effort pre-register online at www.MichianaHumaneSociety.org. To encourage pre-registration, there will be drawings for Starbucks’ Gift Packages. Each adult who properly pre-registers online will be eligible to win one of the over 10 Starbucks Gift Packages. The contents of these gift packages were personally donated by the following Starbucks’ employees: Nikki Hanna, Fern Gorton, Kimberly Vela, Khaldoun Bataineh, Jessica Childress, and Autumn Muntean. Details on this drawing and two other drawings (also free and open to all attendees) can be found at www.MichianaHumaneSociety.org.

All this started with the video created by James Warren, famous YouTube videographer for YouTube’s 2010 Project for Awesome charity video contest featuring the MHS. The short video paints an uplifting and touching picture of the shelter companion animals of all kinds as well as an overview of the outreach and educational services provided. It concludes with some of the MHS staff looking into the camera and asking, “what will you do to help?” and ends with Warren asking, “What will you do… to save a life?” The video finished 7th in the nationwide 72-hour contest and can be viewed at www.MichianaHumaneSociety.org.

To register for the Starbucks’ FREE Open-to-All Event on Saturday, January 22nd from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., please visit www.MichianaHumaneSociety.org