Philanthropy is the driving force behind his invsolvement in the coffee world. In a telephone interview, Mr. Jackman talked about being inspired by the late Paul Newman and his company, Newman's Own, which has donated millions to charity. But it's not the only reason.
The other factor? Taste.
“Hey, I'm a coffee snob,” says Mr. Jackman, who could drink coffee “all day, because I just love it,” but limits himself to one or two cups. “If I'm buying it, I want a great cup of coffee. If you can have a great cup of coffee and the profits of that company are actually going back to different charities, I think it's a win-win for everybody.”
Mr. Jackman's interest in creating a coffee company was sparked during a tour he took as an ambassador for World Vision, an organization that works with children and families. In Ethiopia, he met Dukale, a coffee farmer, and was struck by how hard he worked to look after his family, and by how a little help could make a big difference in the lives of coffee farmers.
In a piece of synchronicity, he discovered that a friend, Barry Steingard, who has 25 years experience in the coffee and restaurant industry, was planning on getting back in the coffee business. “I said, ‘Well, do you need a partner?’” Jackman said.
So far, Laughing Man Coffee & Tea – chocolates were also recently added – is the first subsidiary under Mr. Jackman's umbrella company, Laughing Man Worldwide. The way it works is that 50 per cent of the subsidiary profits go to the parent company, which then donates 100 per cent of its profits. Educational initiatives are the focus of the coffee company, which has partnered with Harlem Village Academies, the well-regarded charter schools in New York, and World Vision.
So, Aussies... one more Australian Charity Entrepreneur to our list of Aussies raising funds for a cause (and maybe for a bit of extra money too! - there is nothing wrong with that)
Sources:
The Associated Press
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