Media Release: Costa Coffee Staff Full Of Beans Raising Funds For Third World Schools

Poole, Dorset – Friday 21 August, 2009; Costa Coffee staff in the Dolphin Shopping Centre are getting a bigger buzz than usual from their job as they undertake a month-long fundraising drive to raise money to help furnish third world schools in the countries that grow its beans.

The entire Poole store team have pledged to donate all their tips for a month and organised a variety of events stretching throughout August, including themed staff dress-down days each Saturday. The fancy dress fun will continue this week - on Saturday 22 August the Poole Costa crew will be dressing in honour of the farmers who harvest its coffee beans. On 23 August, Sunday is fun day at Costa Coffee in Poole where children of all ages can enjoy a variety of games and activities including colouring, drawing and face painting. All activities are free but customers are encouraged to make a donation to the worthy cause. The Dolphin Shopping Centre branch is on track to reach its £250 fundraising target which, if met, will be doubled by Costa Coffee to help furnish third world schools in the coffee-growing communities of Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Uganda and Colombia. Created in 2006, the Costa Foundation’s programmes have since helped to improve social and economic welfare within these communities by providing children with access to education, explains Katrina Johnson, manager of the Dolphin Shopping Centre store. “Throughout 2009 and 2010 we are building, improving and maintaining schools within five coffee-growing communities. These are regions where many children have no access to education, clean water, sanitation, transport or food for school meals. All things which we take for granted in this country but provide life-changing support for the countries we are helping through the Foundation.” In addition to five projects currently underway, seven projects have been completed. In La Mesa, Colombia, the earthquake-affected Anatoli Primary School is finished, benefitting 266 children. Two large classrooms, electricity and computers will soon be in place at Paraiso de Changuena High School, Costa Rica, and the creation of an eight classroom school and library has helped over 1,000 children in Oromia Kilenso, Ethiopia, to name but a few of the initiatives. “The Costa team here in Poole have really embraced the 2009 fundraising effort,” Katrina continues. “Every member of staff will be donating their tips for a month and everyone has invested a lot of time and effort. There will be lots of fun this weekend, so why not pop in and get a buzz out of helping children to get an education thousands of miles away.” As well as all of the in-store activities planned, Katrina will also be undertaking a sponsored walk in the next few weeks. To support Katrina simply visit Costa Coffee and complete the sponsorship form. Dolphin Shopping Centre Manager, Stephanie Connelly, commented: “Why not sit back and relax with a cuppa at Costa this weekend, safe in the knowledge that your small contribution of a staff tip will help to make a massive difference to coffee growing countries. It’s fantastic to see the Costa team united in such a worthy cause and I hope our shoppers will be keen to support their efforts and help the branch to reach its fundraising target.” -Ends- Notes to Editors In 2003, The Dolphin Shopping Centre was acquired by Grosvenor – the leading international property development, investment and management group – for its Grosvenor Shopping Centre Fund. The centre contains 115 stores and covers an area of over 47,000 square metres. The Grosvenor Shopping Centre Fund was established in 1998. It is a partnership created to invest in high quality, dominant shopping centres around the UK. The Fund is managed by Grosvenor from its office in London, combining the expertise of the company’s fund and asset managers. The Fund currently owns Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole; Coopers Square, Burton upon Trent; Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness; and Freshney Place Shopping Centre, Grimsby. For further information please contact the Dolphin Shopping Centre Press Office: Emma Spearing, Hazel PR Tel: +44(0) 1202 862411 Mobile: +44 (0)7736 341828 Email: emma.spearing@hazelpr.com

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