“Coffee for a Cure” helps area women receive life-saving screenings

Women throughout the Treasure Valley will have more opportunity and accessibility to life-saving breast care services thanks to a large donation made today by the owners of the Human Bean coffee shops.

On October 18, all proceeds from sales at the 11 Human Bean locations in Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Star, Meridian and Garden City were donated to the Saint Alphonsus Breast Care Fund. The fund helps women in our community who otherwise might not be able to afford or access mammograms, breast cancer screenings or other breast health care. The goal was to raise $20,000, and today The Human Bean owners presented a check for $22,000 to the Saint Alphonsus Foundation to benefit the Breast Care Fund.

“This partnership means that we can keep care closest to home,” said Jackie Babb, Director of Breast Care Services at Saint Alphonsus. “These funds will go directly to screenings and first-line diagnostics to people who otherwise would not have insurance to pay for screening mammography. We are reaching out to those who are most vulnerable, and making sure that finances aren’t a barrier for them to get healthcare.”

Since partnering with Saint Alphonsus in “Coffee for a Cure” in 2017, the Human Bean has raised and donated more than $68,000 for breast health.

“I’ve always tried to work with charities that give back to our community, and these funds stays here in the community, to better our community,” said Alex Furioso, the “Coffee Boss,” or owner, of the Human Beans in the Treasure Valley. “Breast cancer is something that’s hit home for me and my family, so if there’s anything that we can to do try to help, we want to try to help. We couldn’t do this without all our customers who come by that day and our employees, who put up with a hectic day.”

Saint Alphonsus is extending the reach of its breast care services by maintaining two mobile mammography coaches, which travel to rural communities in Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon, as well as at major public events, including the Western Idaho Fair and area rodeos. The Mobile Mammography program was the beneficiary of the just-concluded Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees in Boise.

Alex and Wendy Furioso (center), owners of the Human Bean coffee shops in the Treasure Valley,

present the proceeds from October 18th’s “Coffee for a Cure” promotion to the Saint Alphonsus Foundation and

Saint Alphonsus Breast Care Fund.