Seattle, WA—Coffee Fest has announced that it will donate 10 percent of its on-site registration proceeds from all three Coffee Fest shows in 2005 to the Coffee Kids Sumatra Relief Fund.

Coffee Kids, in partnership with ForesTrade, has formed the Coffee Kids Sumatra Relief Fund to provide assistance to families in Sumatra’s coffee-growing province of Aceh, one of the areas hardest-hit by the tsunami disaster. “100 percent of all contributions made to the Coffee Kids Sumatra Relief Fund will be sent to the PPKGO coffee cooperative in Aceh,” said Bill Fishbein, founder and executive director of Coffee Kids. “Coffee Kids will not take any administration fees.”

“Proceeds from Coffee Fest Chicago will help provide immediate relief to survivors of the Southern Asia tsunami disaster,” said David Heilbrunn, show manager for Coffee Fest. “Monies donated from our Las Vegas and Seattle shows will help provide more long-term, sustainable aid to this region as recovery continues throughout the year.”

In addition to donating 10 percent of on-site revenue, Coffee Fest will invite attendees and exhibitors at each of the three 2005 shows to make additional contributions to the relief effort. A receipt for these additional donations will be provided at the registration desk, with all donations being tax-deductible.

According to The Gourmet Retailer, coffee and tea retailers are “leading the charge for their industry as Indonesia is the world’s third-largest producer of coffee in the $9 billion-dollar coffee industry.”

Coffee Fest is dedicated to the growth and proliferation of the specialty coffee, gourmet tea and alternative beverage industries. Coffee Fest’s 2005 show schedule is as follows: Coffee Fest Chicago, February 25-27, at Chicago’s Navy Pier; Coffee Fest Las Vegas, June 3-5, at the Las Vegas Convention Center; and Coffee Fest Seattle, October 28-30, at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. More information can be obtained at www.coffeefest.com or by calling 425.283.5058.