Starbucks Korea (hereafter Starbucks) said on the 16th that to mark Day of Persons with Disabilities on Apr. 20, it will release goods made from the winning entries of a contest by young artists with disabilities.
The goods they created were planned on a virtuous-cycle model in which proceeds from product sales are accumulated as a fund and then used again for a disability awareness improvement campaign (project). Starbucks plans to set aside 300 won per item sold from these goods and use it for related campaigns.
The goods unveiled this time include: ▲ Community Harmony Flare Cold Cup ▲ SS Community Love Kessel Tumbler ▲ Community Stella Zion Mug (355 ml) and a Starbucks mobile card. They were produced based on the winning works from last year's "Starbucks Drawing Contest" for artists with disabilities.
The Community Harmony Flare Cold Cup features "Any color or any shape is fine," the grand prize-winning work by artist Jeong Anna. Through vegetables and fruits with different colors, shapes and tastes, the piece conveys the message that "difference is not a lack but each one's individuality."
"Getting ready for summer LOVE," the gold prize-winning work by artist Ahn Sohyeon, was released as the SS Community Love Kessel Tumbler. The piece depicts people with disabilities enjoying themselves together at an outdoor pool in the blue summer, shaped into LOVE, to express the values of coexistence and communication.
Another gold prize-winning work, "Bridging differences and running toward starlight" by artist Yu Gyeongryong, shows different lights being connected to continue as a new starlight, expressing the possibilities that diversity offers. This piece is featured on the Community Stella Zion Mug.
These goods will be sold at 111 Community Stores nationwide and at 56 stores across the country, including the Starbucks Gwacheon DT store, where the artists' works are exhibited, as well as in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gwangju, Busan and Daegu. They can also be purchased on the Starbucks app online store.
Son Jeonghyeon, CEO of Starbucks Korea, said, "We are putting into practice a structure in which the works of young artists with disabilities are realized as products and customer spending in turn leads to social value," and added, "We will continue various activities to build a society where people with and without disabilities come together."