Major League Baseball Great Brewing Big News In Bay Area

MLB Oakland A’s Craig Breslow Partners With North Star Fine Coffees
 

OAKLAND, CA — Craig Breslow, a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland A’s and Founder of the Strike 3 Foundation, announced today a multi-year partnership with Seattle-based, family owned North Star Fine Coffees, a specialty coffee retailer offering the highest grade of specialty coffees, in a joint effort to strike out pediatric cancer.

Breslow had this to say:  “We are very excited about the relationship forged between Strike 3 and North Star.  Both organizations represent a model of dedication, loyalty, and commitment.  We stand behind the great product that North Star provides, but most importantly, we are immensely appreciative of the opportunity to raise meaningful funds for children with cancer. Bryan-David and his team have agreed to donate a full $3 per bag, which is very generous. Most other coffee companies we’ve seen donate a percent of profits or maybe up to $1, and I have to say it’s great coffee!  I never had a second cup of coffee before I tried North Star.”

http://www.NorthStarFineCoffees.com/Strike3 is where fans and customers can order the new Strike 3 Foundation blend as well as other select blends. NOTE: Strike 3 Foundation blend will be available at select retailers and restaurants soon!

Breslow has added a generous lure to customers who purchase Strike 3 Blend, as each month, a drawing will be held to select a winner who will receive autographed memorabilia and game tickets.  Names are entered singularly for purchasers of one bag, twice for purchases of two bags, up to ten entries.

Joe Lizza, COO of the Strike 3 Foundation said, “North Star Fine Coffees offers the best value by offering significantly higher quality at only a slightly higher price.

Millions of Americans spend $2 to $4 on a cup of coffee every day. A bag of Strike 3 Foundation blend only costs about 50 cents per cup, but is better than the barista brewed brands.  This stuff is amazing!  We know people will love the coffee and, because of this partnership, they can collectively contribute much needed funds to support research to treat and prevent childhood cancer.”

A Fortune 10 Financial Services Executive has already committed to buying Strike 3 Foundation blend for her employees. She said, “I have supported Strike 3 in a number of ways, and have watched it grow into a national charity, approaching millions in funds generated.  Now I am even more excited to be able to continue to support the work of Strike 3 while I enjoy my morning coffee.  And I couldn’t ask for a better cup of coffee!”

The partners are working with children battling cancer at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital to design a special label that will soon appear on all bags of Strike 3 Foundation blend. Bryan-David Scott, Founder and President of North Star Fine Coffees, added, “This is about helping kids.  They are obviously the beneficiaries of the money we raise, but also the inspiration behind what we do. We hope our labels give these amazing children the opportunity to speak out and tell their story through a medium many kids are most comfortable – drawing pictures.” These labels will start to appear on bags shipped after February 14.

Strike 3 Foundation blend debuts at Strike 3 Foundation’s First Pitch Gala

Strike 3 Brew was introduced at the Strike 3 Foundation’s First Pitch Celebrity Gala in Stamford, CT, to overwhelming approval. The organization’s signature fundraiser attracted nearly 500 patrons, and such celebrities as Bobby Valentine, Karl Ravech, Rajai Davis, Boof Bonser, Vin Mazzaro, Kevin Slowey, and Andrew Bailey.

Bailey, Major League Baseball’s 2009 Rookie of the Year and Strike 3 Foundation board member, said “I drink coffee every day, I have to, 162 games is a long time.  Now I can continue to drink a great cup of coffee, and support the Strike 3 Foundation.”

About Strike 3 Foundation

The Strike 3 Foundation is a charitable agency that heightens awareness, mobilizes support, and raises funding for childhood cancer research. Founded in 2008 by MLB pitcher Craig Breslow, the tenets of the Strike 3 Foundation had been in place for some time. At age 14, Craig’s sister was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. More than fifteen years later, she lives an unrestricted life as a cancer survivor. Unequivocally, this success story is attributed to advancements in pediatric oncology treatment and research funded largely through generous donations and charitable efforts.

About Strike 3 Foundation Coffee Blend

Only the finest coffee beans from Costa Rica and Guatemala are selected to make the Strike 3 Foundation blend which is described as having a light sweetness, medium body, and filled with high notes of berry-like flavors combined with chocolaty, nutty overtones. North Star is known for only using the highest quality specialty grade 1 coffee beans in the world (The Specialty Coffee Association of America introduced a 28-point grading scale.  Grade 1, the highest grade, is defined as being nearly perfect and with the right roasting delivers the fullest body and richest flavor, with no bitter aftertaste. Lower quality beans receive lower grades because each sampling contains impurities, imperfections and foreign objects such as sticks, stones and insect residue which is, in part, why many coffees taste bitter).

Bryan-David Scott, Founder and President of North Star Fine Coffees, is the chief strategist behind Strike 3 Foundation’s new brew.  “I was raised in the Bay Area and have been a lifelong A’s fan.  As Seattle’s premiere specialty coffee retailer we are afforded an opportunity to combine our passion to help kids with our strength as a company and my personal background to make a real impact in a critical cause.  We’ve been very impressed with Craig and his Foundation’s ability to heighten awareness, mobilize support, and raise funds for childhood cancer research.  As a team, we are determined to strike out pediatric cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in children and teenagers, surpassed only by unintentional injuries,” said Scott.

About North Star Fine Coffees

Family-owned and operated, North Star Fine Coffees is Seattle’s luxury coffee company. North Star Fine Coffees chooses the top .1% of specialty coffee beans from around the world then custom hand crafts each blend and roasts in small batches to create its five-star rated coffees. Customers can order whole bean or a custom ground for drip, percolator, French press or espresso at northstarfinecoffees.com.

Founded in 2007 by entrepreneur, coffee aficionado, and family man Bryan-David Scott, North Star Fine Coffees delivers a dramatic difference in quality with a remarkable smooth, rich, full-bodied flavor and no bitter aftertaste. The company is also setting a new standard of “Full Responsibility and Sustainability” for farming, production and business practices.