Blog #193~CNN Hero of the Year: Amy Wright of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
Last night Anderson Cooper and Kelli Ripa presented the CNN Hero of the Year 2017 award to Amy Wright, who founded Bitty & Beau’s Coffee. Inspired by her two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, who have Down syndrome, she set out to empower and advocate for people having disabilities by providing meaningful employment. Amy Wright is the founder and CEO of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee which employs 40 individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities ranging from Down syndrome to autism to cerebral palsy.
It’s more than a coffee shop…”Bitty and Beau’s Coffee creates a culture where diversity is not just appreciated, its celebrated.”
CNN Heroes is a television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and make a difference in their communities. Amy Wright started a grass-roots movement, opening up Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, which is located in Wilmington, NC. National statistics have shown that 70% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed. Her mission is to provide purposeful jobs that bring the community together, and helps people with and without disabilities to spend time together.
Congratulations to Amy Wright, CNN Hero of the Year 2017 for creating a culture of inclusion and putting 40 individuals with disabilities to work! With the award, she will receive $100,000 from CNN to grow her cause.
Amy finished her acceptance speech with these powerful words to her children Bitty and Beau who were watching the show at home:
“I would not change you for the world, but I will change the world for you.”
Her powerful statement promotes acceptance and inclusion which I find inspiring. Bravo to you, Amy Wright and Bitty & Beau’s Coffee for making a difference.
For more information visit the website and social media links: https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/about/our-story/ Follow Bitty & Beau‘s Coffee on Facebook and Instagram!
That’s what is in my noggin this week.
~Teresa 🙂
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https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/about/our-story/
Down Syndrome with a Slice of Autism 