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For most of us, coffee is simply how the day begins. It’s the fuel behind early commutes, study sessions, and quiet mornings at the kitchen table. But for London-based company Cafézia, coffee is becoming something more: a way to give back to the community.
Cafézia has joined forces with the Children’s Health Foundation in London, Ont., to launch a new sales initiative, dedicating 15% of proceeds to support children receiving care at Children’s Hospital. The concept is simple but powerful: by turning an everyday ritual into an act of giving, every bag purchased can make a tangible difference for local families.
For Cafézia’s president and CEO, Jenna Goodhand, the collaboration is also deeply personal.
“In 2012, my son Beckett was born three months early. I was terrified and felt completely dependent on the hospital’s team and resources to keep my son alive, safe and healthy,” Goodhand says. “Thirteen years later, I feel like my full-grown healthy son is the result of the life-saving equipment, resources and team at Children’s Hospital.”
Now, with Cafézia established as a wellness-focused coffee company, she sees the partnership as a chance to give back.
“When your child is in need of medical support, your whole world stops,” Goodhand says. “Now that we’re both a little more grown up, and I’m in a position to give back, I want to make sure that parents now, and in the future, get the best available care and support for their children during the most challenging times of their lives.”
Cafézia’s growth and community partnerships have also been supported locally. The company works closely with Josh Taylor, Manager of Business Development at LEDC.
“London is a place where innovation and compassion go hand in hand,” says Taylor. “Our strengths in healthcare and agri-food aren’t just about economic growth, they’re about people using their expertise to make a meaningful difference. Cafézia’s partnership with the London Children’s Foundation is a great example of how businesses here are finding creative ways to support families and strengthen our community.”
Cafézia is already known for its organic, fair-trade coffee infused with health-boosting herbs that lower acidity and slow the release of caffeine, making for a smoother, more balanced cup. But this partnership takes the company’s mission to another level.
“If you take the Children's Hospital, tip it upside down, and give it a shake, everything that falls out is donor funded,” says Becky Malacaria, director of corporate partnerships at Children’s Health Foundation. “We hope to leverage this meaningful partnership with Cafezia Coffee and their network, to raise awareness and vital funds to help children receiving care at Children's Hospital, LHSC.”
London and Southwestern Ontario are no strangers to innovation at the intersection of food and health. The region’s agri-food sector has been steadily gaining recognition for its creativity and impact — from mushroom cultivators partnering with universities on cancer research, to coffee companies like Cafézia rethinking how a daily beverage can fuel both wellness and community support. By teaming up with the Children’s Health Foundation, Cafézia is showing how agri-food businesses can play a role not only in what we consume, but in how we care for each other.
The Children’s Health Foundation helps raise nearly 100% of the funds needed for specialized equipment and programs at Children’s Hospital. That includes child life services that bring music, art, laughter and calm during procedures, research that drives innovation and better outcomes, and resources that reduce the stress on families facing long-term care.
“I hope this partnership inspires other companies to consider donating to Children's Health Foundation. There are many ways to help local sick and injured children, from employee payroll deduction to company BBQ’s, dress down days and bake sales, to volunteering as a group team building activity, all of which ensures hope lives at Children's,'” says Malacaria. “We're fortunate to have one of only four children's hospitals in Ontario, right here in London. Together, we can all show up for the children receiving care at Children’s Hospital, who come from Windsor to Thunder Bay to Kitchener and everywhere in between. Together, we are helping them by funding innovative research and state-of-the-art care.”
For Cafézia, giving back to the community is a personal philosophy.
“I believe we are all in a collective experience together, whether we lead a company, work for one, or spend our time in other ways. How we show up to our days matters and has real influence on the lives of others,” Goodhand says.
And for Londoners, supporting the initiative is as simple as enjoying their morning coffee.
“I hope our customers feel what we feel: that a cup of coffee can make a difference,” Goodhand says. “That our choices each day can change the life of a person, a family and a community, not just today, but for years to come.”
You can join this inspiring local initiative by purchasing your bag of change-making coffee at www.cafezia.ca. Use code CHFHOPE at checkout and 15% of your purchase supports the Children’s Health Foundation.
