Coffee Cup With A Cause

by Mike on February 9, 2010 in Coffee Information

I thought I would pass along to you some information about how 7-Eleven is partnering with a wide range of celebrities (from entertainment to sports) to design limited-edition 20-oz coffee cups to raise money for charity. The “Coffee Cup with a Cause” customized celebrity cups will be sold in 7-Eleven stores across the United States, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the featured celebrity’s charity of choice.

Socialite and television personality Nicole Richie, her husband and singer Joel Madden along with twin brother Benji Madden designed the inaugural cup, with proceeds from their customized cup benefiting The Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation, which was founded by Nicole and Joel in 2007.

7-Eleven is guaranteeing a $250,000 minimum donation to each charity, although through the support and purchase of cups, donations could reach as high as $300,000!

For additional information, please visit www.cupwithacause.org or check them out at Facebook and Twitter.

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Article by Mike Crimmins

Mike Crimmins is the highly caffeinated blogger behind Daily Shot Of Coffee. Besides drinking way too much coffee, he's obsessed with the Yankees and getting dirty on his mountain bike.

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Mike February 9, 2010 at 1:16 pm

It’s always great when celebrities reach out and do something good for charity. The statistics on their website are very powerful – $5 can feed a family of three for three days, provide materials to help a child learn to read, or plant a tree in a public garden to help bring a community to life. All worthwhile causes!

Mike February 9, 2010 at 8:28 pm: I would love to see more companies/celebrities step up make contributions like this all of the time.

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safaridave February 9, 2010 at 3:23 pm

glad to see some big companies & celebs spreading the wealth.
Just received my shipment of Carmel me Crazy from Jarbee coffee

Mike February 9, 2010 at 8:28 pm: Let me know what you think of the coffee Dave!

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BWJ February 9, 2010 at 3:38 pm

I’d rather see designers designing the cups. Instead of celebrities devaluing what the professionals do—that cup is terrible looking. I also find the idea of raising money for charity, while promoting the wasteful use disposable cups out of balance. Just sayin.
BWJ´s last blog ..Mondays

Mike February 9, 2010 at 3:45 pm

I think it’s less about actual “design” and more about trying to draw in fans of particular celebrities. Because let’s face it, people going to get coffee at a gas station probably do not care what design is on their cup, with exception to men who may consider these a little too feminine to be carrying to a construction site kind of thing. Plus, whether the charity uses the cups as a canvas or not, I’d guess the same amount of coffee is going to be sold in plain disposable cups anyway. Maybe a better alternative, in that regard, would be to make coffee containers that can be used repeatedly with special designs, although then they would probably want to upgrade the artist.

BWJ February 10, 2010 at 12:43 pm: That’s what irks me though. By saying Nicole Ritchie “designed” these cups, it makes design a passive effort that anyone can do. People wouldn’t buy the cups because of specific designers, but they would look better regardless. Maybe a collaboration with the celebrity? I’d rather they just put a photo of her face on the cup.
BWJ´s last blog ..Mondays

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Mike February 9, 2010 at 8:29 pm

I’m right there with you BWJ, but I also agree with the other Mike, it does take a celebrity name to attract the media and attention.

Billy.411 February 9, 2010 at 10:19 pm

Forgive my crankiness… not a good coffee day! (ie. Haven’t had one!!!)

What bugs me is that both company and celebrity alike need to make a big song and dance about how good they are to be supporting such a worthwhile cause – when in reality, isn’t it a basic obligation of humanity to look after others who are in need?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for promoting awareness – but it’s like these people on telethons who will “double their contribution” if they get they name up in lights… If you want to help people, and are in a position to do so – who cares who you are – just help! (eg. ‘The Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation’… Do they really need to put their names in the title? Great cause, but come on guys… just makes it sound like a publicity stunt more than you actually caring for the children.)

Think I better go take care of my coffee withdrawal…

Mike February 10, 2010 at 7:38 pm: I kind of agree with that… seems like they could just name it after a cause, like Children’s Cancer Foundation, or something more specific.

At the same time, many people who donate huge sums of money “expect” some kind of credit for it, like when you go into a hospital and there’s a huge plaque that shows the names of the people who have donated the largest sums of money.

They may figure it is good for reputation management – I certainly didn’t think much of Nicole Richie and her husband beyond celebutante and rockstar, but if they are going to fund a good organization that will, regardless of the name, help children in the end, then they deserve the credit.

And let’s face it, there is someone out there who may not have donated to the cause, but did because they are a huge fan of these two. Regardless of their motivation, mission accomplished – money is going to a good cause.

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Extreme John February 10, 2010 at 1:04 pm

That’s an automaic RT. Great cause and love the idea, nice to see 7-Eleven gettin it done. Your talking over 10k locations there, that’s a big help to any cause.
Extreme John´s last blog ..A Day in the Life of.. Episode 1 [video]