Bethany Grace '12: Charity in a Pandemic
Wayne State University alumni worldwide join forces annually in October to participate in Alumni Week of Service. The event previously saw more than 88 volunteers from around the world support more than 45 organizations benefitting pre-pandemic causes and we can't wait to see even more join in this year.
Sunrise Kava Café, owned by alumna Bethany Grace '12 in Oscoda, Michigan was one of several contributors during the global effort. In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Grace's business committed to donating 10% of sales for October to Hope Shores Alliance (HSA), an organization dedicated to protecting and supporting sexual assault survivors and a local woman's shelter.
"Last year was a really crazy, hard year for all of us I would say. It happened to be a really good year for me sales-wise because of my location - I'm in northern Michigan. I'm the only coffee shop in town so I was really busy, so last year was the first year I was financially able to say, 'hey I can donate a part of my sales because my head is finally over water'," Grace remarked.
Although it was her first year participating in the Week of Service, Grace's partnership with HSA is persistent. Outside of the donations contributed via Grace and her staff in October, Grace has also hosted a litany of events benefitting the woman's shelter. Among these was a gift drive conducted last December that benefitted 5 families in the area, and more recently an event coined "Free Britney Friday" that saw $200 worth of gas cards (8 cards valued at $25 each) donated to HSA.
Running Sunrise Kava Café does not come without its share of challenges, however. As a single female entrepreneur not originally from Oscada, Grace admitted that business life isn't always easy. "It hasn't been easy, and every day presents its own struggle. I try to take myself out of categorizing myself as a woman and a minority, and I do face different obstacles for that," she reflected. "I have overcome a lot of obstacles, but honestly you keep going, you harness your inner power, you do your thing, and you go in and do your best every morning. Last year was tremendous and I feel like a stronger individual coming out of it the way that I did."
Grace also has the financial benefit of being the sole café in the city. With offerings like their German Chocolate Mocha and Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Croissant, Sunrise Kava Café is unique when compared to the bars and burgers dominating the area.
Grace also encourages others to invest time in themselves, attributing her positivity to meditation and self-reflection. "Follow your dreams and your truth and your inner light," she advised.
Although her work has continued outside of last year's Week of Service, Grace is looking forward to using Sunrise Kava Café to inspire change in this year's Week of Service, taking place near the end of October.