CafePress Recognized by Entrepreneurs Foundation for Community Outreach
Rookie of the Year Award Honors Company's Philanthropic Efforts
SAN MATEO, CA October 27, 2009 - CafePress, the world's biggest destination for self-expression through merchandise, was named Rookie of the Year by the Entrepreneurs Foundation, a nonprofit organization that brings Bay Area entrepreneurial companies together with their communities. As part of the foundation's annual Powered by EF awards, the Rookie of the Year accolade recognizes CafePress' exceptional commitment to community involvement through fundraising, cash and in-kind contributions and volunteer activities.
Powered by EF awards are given to firms and companies within the network that best represent the mission of the Entrepreneurs Foundation: to engage high growth companies in corporate citizenship and philanthropic efforts so that new and leveraged resources are generated for community benefit. To earn the coveted Rookie of the Year award, a company that joined EF within the last eighteen months must demonstrate an outstanding job at creating an impactful and sustainable program for both the company and the community.
"We are honored to accept the EF Rookie of the Year award," said Monica Johnson, CafePress CFO. "Philanthropy is a core value of our CafePress culture and we appreciate the support that the Entrepreneurs Foundation has given our company in developing a corporate citizenship program that leverages our resources for community benefit. This award inspires continued commitment to the cause among our employees."
"Entrepreneurs Foundation is proud to recognize CafePress as the 2009 Rookie of the Year. The company has embraced its role as a corporate citizen by not only providing resources to social organizations but also by leveraging its core business expertise and employee talents for community benefit," stated Diane Solinger, Executive Director of Entrepreneurs Foundation.
In the past 18 months CafePress has contributed over $550,000 in cash, in-kind contributions and volunteer hours. Additionally, CafePress employees have applied their core expertise in product development to support the fundraising efforts of key non-profit partners in the Bay Area and Kentucky, such as Citizen Schools, Second Harvest Food Bank, Family Giving Tree, Louisville Metro Animal Services and Komen Louisville Race for the Cure.
In 2009 Citizen Schools invited CafePress employees to teach middle school children how to create their own businesses over a twelve-week period. The children walked away from their apprenticeship with new skills in marketing, design, and public speaking. "CafePress has been a great partner in educating our youth by volunteering countless hours sharing their passion and expertise through hands-on learning projects. Citizen Schools commends the Entrepreneurs Foundation for recognizing CafePress as they continue to model social responsibility in our community," comments Nancy Taylor, Executive Director of Citizen Schools.
CafePress will continue its work with the Entrepreneurs Foundation in the coming year. During the holiday season, CafePress employees look forward to hosting another successful Holiday Fun and Food Drive with Second Harvest Food Bank and supporting local children through the Holiday Wish Program with Family Giving Tree.
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About CafePress
CafePress is the world's biggest destination for self-expression through merchandise. Each month over 11 million shoppers visit CafePress to buy or create T-shirts, mugs, posters and other gifts that reflect their interests, passions, beliefs and affiliations. Launched in 1999, CafePress has empowered individuals, Non Profits and businesses to create, buy and sell customized merchandise online using the company's unique print-on-demand and e-commerce services. Today, CafePress is a growing network of over 6.5 million members who have unleashed their creativity to transform their artwork and ideas into an impressive catalog of over 250 million unique gifts.
Learn more about CafePress at http://www.cafepress.com or on their international sites in Australia (http://www.cafepress.com), Canada (http://www.cafepress.com) and the United Kingdom (http://www.cafepress.com).
About Entrepreneurs Foundation
Entrepreneurs Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging high growth companies of all sizes in corporate citizenship and philanthropic efforts so that new and leveraged resources are generated for community benefit. Since inception, Entrepreneurs Foundation's 800+ participating companies have created corporate philanthropic foundations and community programs that are making a positive impact in the social sector. To date, EF and its participating companies have engaged 24,000 employees who have contributed more than $19 million to support 650+ non profit and social benefit organizations, worldwide. For more information about Entrepreneurs Foundation, visit www.efbayarea.org.
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