I don’t know if you are like me or not, but I have come to absolutely love an occasional cup of coffee from Starbucks or one of the multitude of competing coffee purveyors that have sprung up just about everywhere in the last decade. Judging by the success of these little boutique beverage joints, I am not in any way alone. Seems like you can throw a stick these days and hit three or four caffeine concoctors without even trying.

Yes, about once or twice a week I find myself plunking down $5 for a tall frothy hot beverage full of sweet, creamy goodness. A Sunday morning visit to my local cafe is a particularly regular ritual for me. So I may be the last to talk, but I got to thinking this morning, about this very thing. 

I was speaking to a very nice mom at a PTA gathering. I had just given a talk to a group of mom’s from some different schools about how important educational school shows and science assemblies are in the education of school aged children. Afterward I had a little time to talk with some of them individually. One was talking about how much she loved the idea of the school programs we offer, but about how their school just could not afford a show. My “keen mind” (he said, sarcastically) could not miss the irony as she said this all the while sipping on a tasty beverage from that Seattle based coffee company we all love. The irony was thick.

There was a time when I never thought about a Latte or a Cappuccino or a Cafe Mocha. And I got by just fine. Now I usually drink a couple a week.

Now if you add up just two of those a week ( and I KNOW some of you are far more frequent in your indulgence than that!), at an average $5 a cup, that comes to more than $500 a year. 

It does not take a genius to realize that forgoing two Cinnamon Dolce Lattes a week for a year will more than pay for an unforgettable science show or an amazing historical character or some other really cool school show which will have an important and lasting impact on an entire school.

Two coffees a week versus an experience that will contribute to the the education and betterment of an entire school. 

Wow! Is there even a question here? 

Now imagine that you have ten parents. Imagine we ask each to forgo one Stabuckian visit a month. Not a week, just one time each month. That would bring in over $600 a year. If they gave up two a month ... well, you see where this is going.

How important are your kids?

How important is their education?

Really, how important is it to you?

Is it less important than Caramel Macciato you are slurping?

Really?

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN.