The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Inspires Customers to "Brew Your Best Year" via the CBTL 2015 Giving Journal

I always find it heartwarming to see big corporations making a difference through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) is one such company that considers community building and giving back as essential parts of its philosophy. CBTL prides itself in building connections through its commitment to engage its loyal customers in an authentic and meaningful way. 

CBTL branch at Net Lima in Bonifacio Global City

Each year, weeks before Christmas, CBTL releases its coveted Giving Journal around a holiday campaign that benefits the Real LIFE Foundation. It is their goal to create something better than the last while continuously evolving the journal to share the company's passion for giving, sharing, and community.

wire bookmarks made during the Giving Journal launch

This 2015, the theme of the Giving Journal is to provide the inspiration to create personal overflows so that we can thrive and live in abundance, find fulfillment and growth, build strong relationships, and acquire a joyful spirituality.  This kind of self-empowerment allows us to be the best versions of ourselves that we can share with others. Only then could do that if we have something to give.   

one of Real LIFE's scholars, now engineer, with Executive Director Lynn Nawata

Highlighted in the Giving Journal is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of OVERFLOW:

I choose to grow each day

To be purposeful at work and play

And throughout life's highs and lows

I choose a life that overflows

I choose to take steps forward

To make sure each day is fully explored

And whether I meet with joys or sorrows

I choose a life that overflows

I know that no diligence is wasted

That little by little goes far when added

I know that goodness echoes

So I choose a life that overflows

Someday I'll look back

At my well-traveled track

I'll beam because my heart knows

I chose a life that overflows

Help CBTL continue to bring the spirit of the Giving Journal to life through partnerships with various social organizations and championing volunteerism through their customers and team members. I'm glad to hear that the company has already raised more than P10M since 2008 to create much needed awareness for advocacies such as Habitat for Humanity and Real LIFE Foundation.

CBTL's super delicious Red Velvet Shake and Tiger Prawn Pasta

LIFE (Leadership, Integrity, Faith, and Excellence) Scholarships enable poor but deserving scholars to finish high school and college degrees while also being mentored on values and skills needed to succeed in the real world. To date, the foundation has financially assisted more than 1,000 students and over 200 university graduates. 

Walden Chu, CEO of CBTL Philippines

"The concept is very simple -- it's about reminding people that they can make a huge difference in their own and other people's lives by growing to become the best version of themselves -- to realize that their lives are brimming with opportunities to share and then prompt them to give back," says Walden Chu, CEO of CBTL Philippines. "As we all look forward to 2015, it is my sincere prayer that the Giving Journal can help all of us brew our best year, and that we will always be moved to love, give, and serve."

the CBTL 2015 Giving Journal in green, brown, purple, and orange

Begin purchasing specific beverages starting October 25, 2014 to complete the 12 circles in the stamp card. Present your completed stamp card at any Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf branch to claim your 2015 Giving Journal. Stamps can be collected until January 11, 2015 and the journal can be claimed until 60 days after.