16 | February 2014 • www.specialty-coffee.com
program. I've had to put very little of my own money into it
for a while now.
SCR: Some prey famous people have taken notice of
what you're doing. Can you tell us about some of those
experiences?
Dewey: Well, Starbucks has been great. Some of the store
workers are the people who called the local news about me
in the rst place. In December, I got to go to Seattle and visit
Starbucks headquarters, where I met with Howard Schultz.
He'd heard about it and was very supportive. Starbucks even
gave me a $10,000 gi card. at will buy a lot of coees!
In October, I was on the Queen Latifah show. at
helped generate a lot of donations. And I was also invited to
Washington, D.C. last year. Jill Biden is a big proponent of
breast cancer awareness. She or someone on her sta heard
about me, and they invited me to attend a reception for breast
cancer awareness at the Vice President's residence. Vice
President Joe Biden shook my hand and told me, "You've got
to keep doing this as long as you can."
SCR: Have you ever missed a week?
Dewey: Only once, back in 2007. at's when I only was doing
the one hospital. Christmas Eve fell on a Wednesday, and I could
either do the coee run or go and visit my sister, who lives 300
miles away. So I went to visit her. People were all concerned.
"What happened to you, Dan?!" I didn't even think Starbucks
would be open on Christmas Eve, but it turns out it was.
SCR: A logistical question: how do you carry so many
coees at once?
Dewey: I've practiced so much over the years that people are
in awe of what I can carry. I can carry 21 cups at once without
spilling anything. For the larger orders, I either make multiple
trips or use my car. People have given me carts and other
systems over the years, but they don't work as well. I can carry
more if I do it my own way.
SCR: What is your message to other people out there
who may be inspired by your good work?
Dewey: If you get a chance to buy someone a cup of coee
who looks like they could use it, do it!
SCR
To learn more about Dan
and donate to his cause, visit
www.danscoeerun.net or use
this QR code to access the site
on your smart phone.
D
10 .
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