Locally owned and operated by Bill and Carol Smith, Dutch Bros. Coffee of Central Oregon celebrates 10 years of business. The original Third St. Bend store opened its doors on June 28, 2004.
In addition to reaching a longevity milestone, the Central Oregon franchise has given back over half a million dollars to the community. Organizations supported over the decade include school districts in Bend/LaPine, Redmond and Sisters; The Boys & Girls Club; NeighborImpact; Healthy Beginnings and others.
“We see this as a great way to celebrate a milestone in our business, give back to our customers and recognize a great nonprofit in our community,” said Kaelyn Costa, community relations for Dutch Bros. Central Oregon. “Without our enthusiastic fans we wouldn’t be here today.”
Days like this are standard practice for Dutch Bros. Central Oregon, which speaks to the charitable roots of the company. The commitment to giving back is deeply engrained, from giving away free birthday drinks, to organizing company-wide fundraisers, Dutch Bros.’ fearless leader Travis Boersma sets the tone for generosity.
“To be a part of a company that believes so profoundly in giving back is rare and so fun,” said Costa.
The Smiths employ over 70 full and part-time employees in Central Oregon including their daughters and son-in-law. With eight stores and plans for more in the area, the Smiths hope to continue to build a thriving company that can provide jobs and continue to give back to the Central Oregon community.
“We know that we would not be celebrating this day without the support of our customers, we are so grateful,” says Bill.
