The family we didn’t think possible: How Starbucks Family Expansion Benefit helped us become parents

By Andrew A., coffeehouse leader

Growing up, both my husband and I were raised in households where being gay was not openly accepted or understood. Coming to terms with who we were and finding the courage to come out was a difficult journey for each of us. For much of our lives, we were led to believe that certain dreams, especially becoming parents, simply were not possible for people like us.

As we built our life together, we often talked about what our future might look like. We knew we wanted a family, but the path to parenthood felt complicated, uncertain and financially out of reach. Like many LGBTQ+ couples, we faced unique challenges and barriers when exploring options to have children.

Everything changed when we learned about Starbucks Family Expansion Benefit, which covers eligible costs associated with adoption and surrogacy, and is available to all benefits eligible part- and full-time partners.

The benefit helped make parenthood a realistic possibility by providing financial support for us that would otherwise have been difficult to afford. More importantly, it sent a powerful message that Starbucks genuinely supports all families and believes that every partner deserves the opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming a parent.

With the support of this benefit, my husband and I were able to move forward and begin our journey. It helped remove financial obstacles that had stood in our way and allowed us to focus on the joy and excitement of becoming parents.

Today, we are the proud parents of a beautiful 4-year-old daughter who has brought more love, laughter and purpose into our lives than we ever imagined. Every day, we are reminded of how different our story could have been without the support we received through Starbucks.

Thank you, Starbucks, for recognizing that families come in many forms and for helping make ours possible