Support Us

We have teamed up with Gobena Coffee to raise funds for our music school. 50% of everything you purchase will go towards our program (UNLIMITED)!  Enjoy the fresh-roasted coffee!  And don’t forget if you spend $50 or more you get free shipping. 100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser will help us expand our studio space and upgrade equipment. 

Hip Cat Music School opened in downtown Bloomington, Illinois in September of 2020. We have grown from 35 students to over 600 and now have 45 teachers and 12 studios. We are out growing our space and have the opportunity to expand by building 6-7 more studios. We partnered with Gobena Coffee because of their commitment to making a difference in the world through their partnership with Lifesong for Orphans and because they make great Fair Trade-Certified Organic coffee! Your purchase will help us to better serve our community and help children around the world through Lifesong for Orphans!

Support our Cause!

When you use our special fundraising link below, 50% every item you purchase goes towards our fundraising goal!

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Share our Story

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Our name, Gobena, originates in the story of a 70 year-old plantain farmer in Ethiopia. In 2007, Gobena (pronounced gō•bĭn•ŭh) stumbled upon a newborn baby girl abandoned under a tree near his home. Gobena and his wife, Mulunesh, decided to care for the newborn “because she is God’s soul”. After about a month, the couple realized they would not be able to provide for the baby. They traveled 150 miles to a police station to seek help, where they decided that putting the little girl in an orphanage to be adopted was the best option for her.

That summer, a couple named Steve and Danae traveled to Ethiopia from central Illinois to adopt a little girl, Eva – the baby whom Gobena saved. They were greatly moved upon learning the incredible story of Eva’s rescue and were able to meet Gobena and Mulunesh. The selflessness, compassion, and rich sense of community they experienced in the Ethiopian culture inspired Steve and Danae to start a coffee ministry where 100% of the net profits would be reinvested in the lives of orphaned children around the world through Lifesong for Orphans.

In 2012, Steve and Danae gave Gobena Coffee to Lifesong for Orphans, who ran the business through volunteers. The first full-time employee of Gobena was hired in 2014 and the company continued to grow and expand. Today, Gobena is a for-profit business partnering with Lifesong for Orphans to carry on the original mission: 100% of profits go to enrich the lives of orphans and vulnerable children. Our goal is to provide you with high quality, delicious coffee for an excellent value so that you can not only make a difference with your purchase, but also enjoy outstanding coffee.