The Beauty of Benevolence
Charity checks may sound wonderful – but they don’t do enough.
It’s easy to write a check without thinking twice. You feel good about yourself in the moment but what happens next? People need sustainable tools – not just temporary relief. Why give a handout when we can fix the problem?
Why Charity Isn’t Enough
Every year, thousands of charitable organizations try to tackle poverty and hunger. However, poverty and hunger are still rampant. Why? Because relief only provides a temporary fix. When disaster strikes again, people react and write charity checks. There’s a better path – benevolent capitalism. This path leads to a “hand up” not a handout.
Give a Hand Up Not a Hand Out
To create sustainable development, people need investments in lasting infrastructure more than temporary aid. We must walk hand in hand with our farmers and provide the tools they need to support themselves and their families. Our partner, Agros, gives our farmers a “hand up” through coffee-growing workshops, bank loans, and education. And, it’s only possible by your thoughtful purchase of coffee. That’s benevolent capitalism.
Benevolent Capitalism Makes The Invisible – Visible
People don’t want handouts – they want to be heard. They want to be pulled from the shadows of poverty and given a voice. Benevolent capitalism is a hand up, not a hand out. With capitalism comes profit. However, profits shouldn’t mean greediness. I don’t keep score of the profits – I keep score of the triple bottom line.
The Triple Bottom Line:
1) Do good for the environment
2) Do good to the people around you
3) Do good business in creating profit
As the old phrase states, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” We like to take that phrase one step further: empower the man to own the pond and you transform him and his family generationally.
Thank You.
People like you, are making a real difference every day just by drinking Camano Island Coffee. Farmers who were told not to dream, can now dream and bring themselves out of the shadows of poverty. You change lives with every sip of coffee – and for that, I thank you. If you haven’t already, Join the Coffee’s Lover’s Club. Your first pound is on us.