In September 2002, the Tazo Tea Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of Starbucks) formed a partnership to support tea communities with Mercy Corps, a relief agency that operates health and economic development programs in more than 30 countries.

This partnership is working on a project in the tea-growing region of Darjeeling, India, where Tazo purchases some of the world's finest teas. The project is focused on three key areas:

• improving the quality of and access to water
• supporting regional social, environmental and economic programs
• developing young people's leadership skills and opportunities for the future.

Starbucks, Tazo and its business partners will invest $600,000 to fund this three-year program.