Sumner Downtown Association's Business of the Month: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

On August 17, 2009, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters announced they would be adding a manufacturing and distribution center right here in Sumner. As a company who values community, GMCR focus is on social and environmental issues that have a sense of urgency. In fact, GMCR has been strategic in awarding grants, volunteering and donating products.

As part of their company and staff contributions, GMCR has been involved through the following:

Domestic Grant Making: We support organizations aligned with our social and environmental goals through our Brewing A Better World Fund.

Employee Volunteerism: Our employees can either receive paid time off — up to 52 hours per year — to volunteer in their communities or earn a grant for a nonprofit organization by volunteering on their own time.

Product Donations: As part of our community involvement, we support nonprofit organizations through coffee product donations.

Employee Giving: Our charitable donations matched program encourages employees to make a difference by making contributions to organizations of their choice.

Although for most businesses, focus leans toward the bottom line. But not for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

GMCR understands and promotes social improvements into their net gains. For them, their order of importance is as follows: People, Planet and then Profit. As part of the company’s experience, GMCR uses the power of business to make the world a better place and has led the way through their involvement with the Sumner community.

Through a golf tournament, GMCR raised $2300 to be applied toward the Sumner YMCA Capital Campaign.

“Our Sumner employees are excited about the health and recreation services a YMCA will bring to the community, and we want to support the project,” said John Rader, Director of Sumner Operations. GMCR’s Specialty Coffee business unit.

In addition, Tully’s (as part of GMCR) partnered with the Pomegranate Center and the community of Sumner to build “The Gathering Place” last summer. Realizing gathering places are an essential part of community as well as vital to community health, this partnership led to the complete remodel of the Alley off Mail; creating a functional, colorful and creative place for residents and visitors to socialize, listen to music, visit or just relax.

Finally, GMCR was recently recognized by the Washington Main Street Association as the largest contributor of the Washington B&O Tax Credit Incentive Program. Their generosity is helping to sustain SDA.

The Sumner Downtown Association wishes to acknowledge the incredible
on-going community support of GMCR by honoring them as our SDA Member
of the Month.

Congratulations John Rader and team!