Shari's Tea Wins CitizensNYC Neighborhood Business Grant and We're Steeping Up for Our Community
We have some exciting news to share! Shari's Tea has been selected as a recipient of the CitizensNYC Neighborhood Business Grant!
This recognition means the world to us, and we couldn't be more grateful to CitizensNYC for investing in businesses that are doing more than turning a profit, businesses that are committed to growing for good.
More Than a Tea Company
If you've followed our journey, you know that Shari's Tea has always been about more than a beautiful cup of tea. From our custom-blended wellness teas to our immersive Events by ST experiences, everything we do is rooted in a simple belief: wellness should be accessible to everyone.
We source all of our teas through Fair Trade-certified estates. We host complimentary tea wellness events for women at local shelters, making sure they feel celebrated on Mother's Day, Christmas, and beyond. We partner with NYC's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) each year to hire and mentor local students, and when they graduate, we offer them a place on our team. And through our philanthropic arm, we donate products and funds to nonprofits serving the communities that need us most.
This grant is a validation of that work. And it's fuel to do even more.
Introducing: The Tea & Taxes Educational Series
With this grant, we are proud to launch our newest community initiative, the Tea & Taxes Educational Series.
Here's the idea: financial literacy and tax education are life changing tools, but for too many people, especially women, creatives, freelancers, and small business owners in underserved communities, they feel overwhelmed or just plain intimidated.
As a licensed tax attorney and entrepreneur, our founder Shari has seen firsthand how tax knowledge can transform someone's financial life. And she's also seen how a warm cup of tea can transform a room.
So why not combine them?
Starting in early 2026, we'll be hosting free workshops covering topics like:
- Tax basics for freelancers and self-employed individuals
- Deductions small business owners often miss
- Understanding your 1099s
- How to prepare confidently for tax season
Each session will be paired with a guided tea tasting, because learning shouldn't feel stressful, and the right environment makes all the difference. We're creating a calm, judgment-free space where people can ask real questions, connect with others in similar situations, and walk away feeling genuinely empowered.
What This Grant Makes Possible
The CitizensNYC grant allows us to bring this vision to life in a real and meaningful way, from developing our curriculum and securing venues, to creating resource kits and partnering with local CPAs, small business advisors, and wellness professionals who will co-facilitate alongside Shari.
Our goal is to host monthly workshops from March through July 2026, both in-person and virtually, so we can reach as many people as possible across New York City.
Thank You
To CitizensNYC, thank you for seeing us. Thank you for recognizing that business growth and community impact aren't opposing forces. They're the same thing.
To our customers, partners, and community, you are the reason we show up every day. This grant belongs to all of us.
Stay tuned for workshop dates and registration details coming soon. And as always, keep steeping. 🍵
Shari's Tea is a New York City–based, woman- and minority-owned wellness brand offering custom loose-leaf tea blends, corporate and private tea wellness events, and community programming rooted in education and accessibility. Learn more at www.SharisTea.com.
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