We're Honored to Receive a Starbucks Foundation Neighborhood Grant!
Big news from the Speak Up for Kids team. We were recently awarded a $1,000 Neighborhood Grant from The Starbucks Foundation, and we couldn't be more excited to share it with our community!
This grant is extra special because it didn't start in a boardroom. It started with a local Starbucks partner (that's what Starbucks calls its employees) who saw our work firsthand and took the time to nominate us. That single act of community care set everything in motion. Through The Starbucks Foundation's Neighborhood Grants program, partner-led nominations are at the heart of how funding reaches organizations like ours, nonprofits and charities making a real, everyday difference right where they live and work.
What This Grant Means for Kids in West Palm Beach
At Speak Up for Kids, every dollar goes directly toward breaking cycles of abuse, violence, and crime, one child at a time. This $1,000 grant will fuel the programs our foster youth and families depend on, including:
Life Skills - equipping aging-out foster youth with real tools for independence and adulthood
Milestones & Essentials - bringing dignity, comfort, and celebration to kids who deserve every milestone honored
Homes of Hope - supporting and celebrating the caregivers who stabilize placements and keep families strong
Advocacy - strengthening child welfare systems through education and community engagement
Students Speak Up for Kids - empowering young people to lead peer support and advocacy in their schools
Every one of these programs runs on the belief that foster kids deserve a united community with heart. This grant is proof that community shows up, sometimes over a cup of coffee.
About the Starbucks Foundation's Neighborhood Grants Program
Since 2019, The Starbucks Foundation has awarded more than 19,000 grants totaling over $30 million across North America. The Neighborhood Grants program is built on a simple but powerful idea: Starbucks partners know their communities best. By inviting employees to nominate local nonprofits they believe in, the program channels resources directly to grassroots organizations doing meaningful work. Learn more About Starbucks .
"Starbucks has always been the community coffeehouse, a place where connection and joy come to life, led by partners," said Kelly Goodejohn, Executive Director of The Starbucks Foundation. "Through Neighborhood Grants, our partners inspire millions in funding to local organizations making a meaningful difference, from addressing hunger to supporting youth. We're proud to support the causes our partners care deeply about. When we invest in our partners, they help strengthen their communities."
We are proud to be part of that story here in West Palm Beach.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Location: Mary Lou Berger Pavilion, Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, Boca Raton, FLPrimary
Beneficiary: BAPS Charities
Local Beneficiary: Speak Up for Kids (Palm Beach County)
Readers who would like to learn more about the event, volunteer, or register to participate can visit the official event page.
Community members of all ages are encouraged to join the walk and help make a meaningful difference for children in foster care and communities around the world.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Local businesses are invited to support one of South Florida’s most impactful community events. Sponsorship packages range from the Partner level ($750+) to the Platinum level ($5,000+), offering benefits such as logo placement on promotional materials, sponsor booths at the event, and recognition on event day.
Media & Sponsorship Contact
Hardik Soni
Phone: (561) 779-2142
Email: drhardiksoni@gmail.com
About BAPS Charities
BAPS Charities is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to serving communities through humanitarian initiatives. Its work spans health awareness, educational services, environmental protection, and disaster relief, creating measurable impact for communities across North America and worldwide.
About Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County
Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County works to mitigate the trauma and cultivate the self-worth of children living in foster care. Through programs focused on life skills, advocacy, memorable childhood experiences, and support for foster families, the organization helps ensure that every child in the foster care system has the resources, encouragement, and advocacy needed to build a stable and hopeful future.
