September 3, 2019

Coffee for a Cause helps disadvantaged students access education

Annual campaign donates funds from every coffee sold to equity scholarships

It’s that time of year again, when your daily caffeine hit comes with a splash of generosity.

Through the month of September, the University of Wollongong (UOW) is holding its annual Coffee for a Cause, which funds equity scholarships, providing financial support to students.

Coffee shops across UOW will be lending their beans to the worthy initiative with all money raised to help students achieve their academic dreams.

Students and staff are encouraged to indulge in an extra coffee with 20 cents from every cup sold at participating cafes to be donated to the University’s Transforming Futures Scholarship Fund.

Now in its 12th year, the campaign has raised nearly $41,000 since its inception in 2008.

There will be donation boxes provided at participating outlets, the perfect way to rid your wallet of all that loose change, and during the month, there will be coffee-related events happening across campus to raise additional funds.

“The initiative receives such tremendous support from staff and students each year,” UOW Community Engagement Coordinator Clare Fraser said.

“It is the perfect excuse to have a coffee every day.”

The campaign kicked off on Monday, 2 September. For staff on Wollongong Campus there will be three fundraising morning teas on Wednesday, 4 September, Tuesday, 17 September and Wednesday, 18 September, and a free lunch on Wednesday, 11 September featuring a talk from Transforming Futures Scholarship recipient Bianca Hunt, who will share about the impact of the scholarship.

There will be a morning tea held at all regional campuses and at the South Western Sydney Campus.

The initiative is organised by UOW Cares, a workplace giving program which supports 14 charitable causes.

Coffee for a Cause funds will go towards the Transforming Futures Scholarship, which initially offered one-off $1000 scholarships to students who demonstrated social or financial hardships. Now it offers at least 10 students per year $9000 over a three-year period.

Scholarships are awarded to students who are from a low income family background, living in a rural or isolated region, have a permanent disability, are a recent migrant from a non-English speaking country or are Indigenous.

“What started from humble beginnings has developed into a reliable launch pad for students who have gone on to establish great careers,” Mrs Fraser said.

“We know of lawyers, financial analysts, policymakers, business owners, engineers, scientists and teachers who may not have studied at University without the Transforming Futures Scholarship.”

Participating cafes include Panizzi, Gypsy Jones, Rush, Rush 2, Rush Junior, Hemingway, Ugly Duckling and the Shoalhaven’s Café on Campus.

Don't forget to use the tag #uowcoffee4acause on social media for the month of September.