An online charity auction that is currently underway will benefit Hands for Songwa and Outride.
BY J. MARIE CARLAN
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos courtesy of Grind for Good
Grind for Good is bringing together the worlds of coffee and cycling, with espresso-machine company La Marzocco and bicycle maker Specialized joining forces for a charity auction to benefit two great causes. Today we explore the details of Grind for Good and their upcoming auction.
The Gehrigs
Anita and Caro Gehrig are twins and former professional Enduro mountain bike racers based in Switzerland.
The twins are also coffee lovers. After retiring from professional racing, they opened the Flem Mountain Lodge, an ideal retreat for cyclists. Located in Flims, Switzerland, the lodge has 23 rooms and a café that offers a local food menu and a full espresso bar.
The Gehrig twins are also brand ambassadors for Specialized, the renowned California-based bike company. Guests at the Flem Mountain Lodge can even try out Specialized e-bikes on rides around the mountains surrounding the lodge.
But Anita and Caro are also ambassadors for coffee-industry leader La Marzocco. Now they’ve teamed up with Specialized for a very special charity auction. Bringing these two passions together was a no-brainer for Caro and Anita; that’s why they started Grind for Good.
Grind for Good Charity Auction
Grind for Good is an online charity auction taking place this month; it ends August 19. Bike and espresso enthusiasts alike will have the chance to bid on a custom Soil Searching La Marzocco Linea Mini espresso machine, and a custom-made, one-off Specialized Diverge gravel bike. The matching items are painted a striking orange—sure to grab attention, and sure to please enthusiasts with their precision and artistry.
“We have always believed in the values of impact and courage, in cultivating connections with our communities, and in promoting and being mindful about the ecosystem we are part of,” says Giada Biondi, corporate communications and culture manager at La Marzocco.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit Hands for Songwa, a coffee-farming project in Tanzania, and Outride, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling.
About the Organizations
The Hands for Songwa foundation, founded by La Marzocco with partners Probat and Hemro, works with the community surrounding Songwa Estates in Mbeya, Tanzania. So far, the foundation has provided coffee education, renovated a school building for children, and drilled wells for community use, and it will continue to work on projects that improve farmers’ livelihoods.
Outride is a nonprofit organization that seeks to grant access to cycling for young people. Since 2014, Outride has partnered with over 225 schools and granted over $1.5 million to over 170 cycling programs. Their focus is on improving mental, physical, and social health, all of which can be encouraged by bike riding.
“The Grind for Good auction really is a match of the best of two worlds combined,” explains Caro Gehrig. “La Marzocco and Specialized went above and beyond pulling these one-of-a-kind custom pieces together, and it lets every cyclist and coffee lover’s heart beat faster. Coffee and cycling (are) our absolute passion, and with this charity we have the chance to support two causes that mean a lot to us and can change some lives for the good.”
Check It Out
Want to be a part of the fundraiser? You can join in on the auction for the Soil Searching Linea Mini here and the Specialized Diverge bike here.
The Grind for Good auction is open through August 19.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. Marie Carlan (she/they) is the online editor for Barista Magazine. She’s been a barista for 15 years and writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. When she’s not behind the espresso bar or toiling over content, you can find her perusing record stores, collecting bric-a-brac, writing poetry, and trying to keep the plants alive in her Denver apartment. She occasionally updates her blog.
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