Beloved Fresno coffee shop holds Scrabble tournament for a good cause

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – An after-hours competition at a coffee shop in Fresno brought the city’s best Scrabble players together to raise money for a good cause.

Kuppa Joy’s location near North Echo Avenue and East Normal Avenue opened up for a Scrabble Tournament Game Night

that gave all proceeds to charity.

Kuppa Joy’s non-profit, Kuppa Cares, hosted the event. Kuppa Cares’ Director McKenna Gilman says a barista at the shop pushed for the tournament to happen after a successful chess tournament at another Kuppa Joy location.

“She is an employee of Kuppa Joy but that does not disqualify her because this is a Kuppa Cares fundraiser,” Gilman said. “Kuppa Joy started 12 years ago, about three years ago we started our own nonprofit Kuppa Cares.”

Dozens filled the coffee shop as the competitors faced off for a $100 value Kuppa Joy merch box,

Gilman says the outreach program was a success because it allowed Kuppa Cares to let the community know they want to connect.

“We’re trying to just be well established in our community,” Gilman said. “We don’t want to be known for good coffee or just loving the people that come in our shops – we want to be known for loving the people all around our community,” Gilman said.

Gilman says the more Kuppa Cares can get the word out about their services and volunteer work, the more they can follow through with their promise of “loving the community.”

“Some people know that Kuppa Joy is a brand, but they have not heard that we have a nonprofit Kuppa Cares,” Gilman said. “We really love to build our volunteer base, so people are interested in learning more. I would love to share.”