Andrew Hetzel and Big Island specialty coffee consulting firm Cafemakers have donated a unique experience valued at $2,500 for bidders at this year’s tenth annual Elegant Afternoon Tea luncheon and silent auction to benefit the Hale Lokomaika`i Women Helping Women’s center on Maui.

Women Helping Women’s mission is to end domestic violence through advocacy, education and prevention; and to offer safety, support and empowerment to women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

“Twenty five to thirty percent of all murders in the State of Hawaii are directly attributed to domestic violence, ” cites Cafemakers Director Andrew Hetzel. “Only the most sensational cases grab the evening news headlines, leaving the American public to believe that these incidents are rare.” Hetzel continues, “The sad reality is that domestic violence is extremely common. Through the efforts of the Hale Lokomaika`i Women Helping Women center, it is within our reach to stop these crimes from ever occurring.”

The winning bidder of Cafemakers’ coffee experience will receive a one-day private coffee training seminar at their restaurant, hotel, coffee shop or other place of business anywhere in the State of Hawaii, conducted by noted espresso authority and World Barista Championship competition Judge Andrew Hetzel. Participants in the course will be shown the fundamentals of coffee and espresso preparation, coffee tasting methods and techniques used by the world’s top baristas to consistently create great-tasting traditional specialty coffee beverages.

“The content covered by this seminar will be unlike anything that the winner’s staff has experienced before, giving their food or hospitality business a serious competitive advantage. Most importantly, all proceeds go to a very worthy cause.”

The Elegant Afternoon Tea luncheon and silent auction will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2007 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Bev Gannon’s Sugar House on Maui. For individual tickets or to purchase a table at the annual fundraiser, contact the Women Helping Women’s center at (808) 242-6600 or visit www.whwmaui.net.