CAC selects Grounds for Health as its 2024 Charity of the Year

Coffee farmers standing in a line for the photo

Image: Grounds for Health

The Coffee Association of Canada (CAC) has announced that Grounds for Health has been selected as its Charity of the Year for 2024. For over 27 years, Grounds for Health has partnered with the specialty coffee industry to prevent cervical cancer in coffee communities in Latin America and Africa. Cervical cancer kills one woman every two minutes, yet it is entirely preventable with access to basic healthcare services. Through its programmes, Grounds for Health ensures that nurses, health educators, women and families have the training, equipment and support they need to get and give these services.

“Grounds for Health is an exemplary choice for our Charity of the Year due to their significant impact on improving the health of women in coffee-growing communities,” said Robert Carter, president, Coffee Association of Canada. “Grounds for Health’s concrete actions and compassionate dedication to women in coffee-producing countries has had real-life, lifesaving effects on one of the most marginalised groups in our industry.”

Women are vital members of coffee communities and the specialty coffee industry. They provide labour on coffee farms, at washing stations and wet mills; they raise children and ensure they have access to clean water, healthcare and education, and they play critical roles in climate adaptation and climate resilience. To date, Grounds for Health has screened and treated over 215,000 women to prevent cervical cancer. Through its high impact work protecting women’s health, Grounds for Health is also protecting the health and wellbeing of the community, environment and coffee industry as a whole.

“We are delighted to be named the first Charity of the Year by CAC,” said Kyle Engelman, executive director, Grounds for Health. “Many CAC members are supporters of Grounds for Health, inspiring us every day with their commitment to the farmers and women who make this industry possible. Thank you for this honour – we promise to continue our high impact work alongside you.”

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