The Crimson Cup

I have a soft spot for this company. This coffee company was founded and is located in Columbus Ohio, my home town! Kismet brought me to this amazing coffee company. Sitting on my patio in Santa Monica, Ca. I was researching organizations that provide resources to various cancer causes. Crimson Cup pops up because of a special roast they were offering called  "Grounds For Hope" with $1 from every bag sold was going to the Cancer Support Center of central Ohio.

That kind of caring and community involvement is what defines Crimson Cup. I ordered a bag of Dark Roast "Grounds For Hope" and when it showed up at my door and I opened up the box I was hooked for life. There was a photo of the beautiful women, with the most beautiful smile, and the most beautiful bald head from her chemotherapy treatment...it was a stunning display of life and hope. THEN...I brewed the coffee...WOW...amazing, truly amazing!  I can't do the Crimson Cup story justice in a few sentences so please go to their site, read their business model, their community involvement and President Greg Uberts business philosophy:

• An engaging work life

• A fun environment
• A culture of giving

And directly from their site..."we believe we can improve the world and others with this philosophy...L.Y.F.E. (Leave You Feeling Energized), and L.O.V.E. (Leave Others Feeling Energized.) I am sold...Greg Ubert and the Crimson Cup team gives me grounds for hope that love of community and a culture of giving back will prevail!!!

Three Avocados

The name tells you the heart behind Three Avocados. A U.S Church mission had been invited to worship with the people of Bulopa, a small remote village in Uganda. The traveling Pastors were not paid for their services so the small congregations would pass an offering basket and the worshipers would fill the basket with food to nourish the pastors for their next journey. The U. S. Missioners witnessed an extremely poor widower place three avocados in the basket. It was literally all she had and she gave it up to help feed the pastors, her only worldly food source she gave away...that was the impetus for the name. That simple yet immensely selfless act Inspired Three Avocados Coffee.

"Though our efforts could never match the generosity of that widow, our goal is to do everything we can to ensure the poor throughout the world are cared for and never forgotten." Dedication of that magnitude to assist in the betterment of humanity deserves reward. Support Three Avocados!!! (the smiling faces of the children you support are on the coffee bags...prepare your ear to ear smiles...for the coffee taste and the smiling face!!)

Newhall Coffee

Love this company! I have personally consumed over 6 pounds of there fabulous coffee over the past few years. They name a good portion of their blends for the causes they supprt. Homeless, Sick, Naked, Hungry, Prisoned, Coffee For A Cure(in honor of the founders Brother Corey) Based out of Newhall California and started by the McMullen Brothers and now solely owned by Mitch McMullen. Mitch played hoop at San Diego State, got a tryout with the Atlanta Hawks and eventually found his way to Coffee. So the man can hoop and roast, a wicked combo!! Newhall Coffee is the epitome of a community business. Unfortunately Mitch lost his older brother Corey to Leukemia, so a portion of every dollar they make goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America. They are now in multiple big retail outlets but never forget their roots. I am so impressed with the resolve and heart of Newhall Coffee and I am on a personal crusade to play game of horse and drink a cup of coffee with Mitch McMullen.

Toms Coffee

You might be thinking..."Toms...shoes right?...one for one shoes..." and you would be correct. However you can now stroll around in their shoes and a plethora of other fine items while sipping on a fantastic cup of Toms coffee. I took a visit to their flagship store in Venice Ca to find a coffee house, ultra cool retail items, and a creative space that would inspire the most hardened case of life lethargy!! The bag of Dark roast I purchased during my visit had the phrase "start your day by improving someone elses" That is flat out awesome. So was the coffee!!! Toms is a business model that is setting up a template for so many other business to follow. Having a giving heart is good business! (hint, hint, corporate America). You don't need to be in Venice, Ca to enjoy the goodness of Toms...Toms.com is the next best thing!!

Singing Rooster Coffee

First of all, how can you not dig a company called "Singing Rooster" Add on top of that they establish direct buyer relationships and on the ground assistance to to farming communities in Haiti for the sake of self-sustainability, dignity and economic autonomy. Four kinds of coffee, one incredible mission. The website is awesome! (you can even pick up some Haitian art while you are perusing the site) The thank you postcard that comes with your coffee shipment is worth the price of admission!

First Descents Coffee

To try to describe First Descents in a few sentences would be a colossal injustice. I am going to give you the first text you see on the website. "First Descents offers young adult cancer fighters and survivors a free outdoor adventure experience designed to empower them to climb, paddle and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy cancer, reclaim their lives and connect with others doing the same". WOW...are you kidding me...This is quite possibly the most unique and inspirational organization I have encountered.

So what does this have to do with coffee? First Descents has partnered with Vail Mountain Coffee to offer a specific roast to benefit First Descents funding. The coffee is called "Out Living It" (how cool is that double entandre) Dark, Medium, and Light Roast...all with a different adventure discipline portrayed in an action shot on the coffee bag. I can't express how totally blown away I was by finding this organization. Please please visit this website and order some of their amazing coffee, or get a tshirt or however you feel compelled to act. The site is an overload for the senses and emotions and I defy you to not be inspired after taking an adventure ride with First descents!!!!

Firemans Brew

The brain child of two Los Angeles Based firefighters while sitting on a charred hillside after extinguishing a brush fire...O.K. full disclosure, they were envisioning  a cold beer ...the coffee came later. But good things come to those that wait because the coffee is fantastic. My favorite the 3 Alarm blend...great french roast...rocks your morning!!! if you want great taste without the kick...False Alarm decaf! And like all of our brave firefighters they leave no firefighter behind. A portion of each sale goes to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg Maryland. Lets support our brave men and women who risk their lives on the front lines of flames for us on a daily basis. (and yes...we will eventually feature their beer!!!)

Ranger Coffee

"Sleep Is A Crutch" tell me a coffee roast with that title is not tough...well is should be! It comes straight to you from a Ranger Coffee. A veteran owned, veteran run coffee company out of Georgia. They are keenly aware that providing the support and resources  for our returning military men and women vital to maintaining a vibrant work force and secure nation. Their motto is "coffee is what we do, veteran impact is why we do it." They are putting their money where their heart is. In 2012 they instituted a 50/50 policy. Essentially for every distributable dollar of profit that goes to ownership or investors a corresponding dollar goes to one of the immensely important Veteran causes they work with. 6 different roast options, one common cause...Supporting those who have served us!!!

Cellar Angels

Cellar Angels is a cause movement using wine and giving as it's vehicle for change! It's absolutely free to sign up to be an "Angel" then each week you get a new wine offering from an amazing winery usually in the Napa, St.Helena and Yountville areas of Northern California, (at a discount price!!) and a corresponding video introducing the winery and owner or wine maker. $10 shipping on as many bottles as you buy – 1 or a case!

I have personally purchased nearly 30 bottles of wine from Cellar Angels (I haven't drank them all!) and intend on featuring as many as possible! I truly believe in Cellar Angels and the movement they are spearheading. Their commitment is in full view as you cannot complete your purchase until you pick one of those charities to support with your purchase. Martin and Denise Cody and the entire Cellar Angels family are helping improve this world one grape at a time.

Even if you don't drink wine yourself, this is a great gift for someone you love. Buy a case and always have a good bottle to bring to a gathering of friends or family. You will not only be sharing a great wine, you'll be introducing people to the idea of charitable purchasing and conscious consumption.

Sevenly

An incredible organization that is my go-to site for virtually every t-shirt I purchase. So much more than t-shirts though....Their motto is "People Matter." How refreshing!! Must see website to do it justice. Seven dollars of every purchase goes to the cause they are promoting for that week, and every cause is so worthy!!! T-shirts are always hip and cool with a design team that blends fashion and philanthropy effortlessly. I just can't say enough good things about Sevenly. Check them out....People really do matter!!!

Mud Love

I found the Mud Love website researching clean water organizations. I bought a cool tiki peace sign necklace that is flat out cool. They partner with Water For Good and give 20% of all sales to clean water projects in Africa. In the words of Mud Love themselves "The hope of Mud LOVE is to be an inspiration to people, not just providing Africans with clean water, also encouraging and loving broken people What one may lack in clean water another may lack in love" Gotta Love Mud LOVE!!

Chili Beans

As I was formulating my thoughts for "Feel Alive" I would do 6 mile walks and dictate notes into my phone as thoughts came to me. One very sunny day I decided I needed Sunglasses. I strolled into a colorful ,visually awesome store called Chili Beans. They are based out of Brazil and it is definitely "Carnival"-esque. I asked one simple question when I walked in. "Do have any sunglasses that give to charity?" Cue the special series of shades they carry called "Cazuza" Cazuza was a heartthrob singer in Brazil in the 80's who contracted the AIDS virus and lost his battle to the disease in 1990. He became a tireless advocate for AIDS awareness and information. After his death his Mother founded the Sociedade Viva Cazuza in Rio, an organization for the support of children afflicted with AIDS. The Cazuza line is a special design that donates proceeds to the AIDS house and organization. I wear them proudly!!  I never would have known if I hadn't asked...always ask!

Team Rubicon

These guys rock!  A disaster relief team started by two ex-Marines who watched the chaos going on in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and knew they had the skills and training to mobilize assistance and knew they had to act. The rest is history. I purchased a hat from their website and it is a conversation piece every time I wear it. I will take the time to tell their story anytime. What they have accomplished in such a short period of existence is extraordinary. My Team Rubicon hat goes off to you!!

Human Rights Campaign

Equality should define us!!! I am you, you are me, we are one!! Human Rights campaign wears many hats in the quest for equality for our gay, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters. I bought one of their hats. It has an = sign on the front with LOVE above and upside down HATE under the = sign. Powerful message, cool hat, invaluable organization. Remember...we are all in this together! We all deserved to be loved, and respected...no exceptions!!!