KAT6 Blend & Foundation 

A new month brings a new incredible organization to bring awareness to and help support because we believe that coffee is more than a morning ritual — it’s a connector. It brings people together in conversation, comfort, and community. This August, we’re honored to introduce our Cause Coffee partner: the KAT6 Foundation — a nonprofit that’s close to the hearts of our team and even closer to the heart of one of our own. 

For every bag of our KAT6 Blend sold this month, $1 will be donated to support the KAT6 Foundation and their vital work in research, advocacy, and direct family support. Behind every bag is a story. And this story begins with a little boy named Franco.

Franco & Kettner’s Story: Strength in the Rarest of Places

We created our Cause Coffees to shine a light on meaningful causes — whether they’re rooted in our local community or reaching across the globe. From natural disasters to personal stories that deserve to be heard, each partnership is chosen with care, aiming to make an impact today and for the future. So when our team member Bosque came to us about their nephew's story and the KAT6 organization, it was an easy YES. In the summer of 2022, Bosque’s sister, Sara, gave birth to her beautiful son, Franco. But just moments into his new life, everything changed. Franco was diagnosed with KAT6B syndrome, an incredibly rare genetic disorder — so rare, in fact, that there are fewer than 150 known cases in the world.

“Our lives were flipped upside down. We had so many questions and so few answers. But somehow, despite the rarity of Franco’s diagnosis, we found another KAT6 family right here in San Diego with a little boy born just three months before Franco, named Kettner. The local, personal connection brought light into an overwhelming time for both families.”
– Sara Balistreri, Franco’s mom

Since that day, Sara and fellow KAT6B mom, Danielle, have been on a mission to turn uncertainty into action. In 2023, the duo hosted their first KATwalk fundraiser in Mission Bay, raising both awareness and critical funding for the KAT6 Foundation. Bird Rock Coffee was proud to be there, pouring warm coffee and support into the hands of every participant.

This year, they’re doing it again — and we’re rallying behind them.

Brewing Change in Every Cup 

While September is KAT6 Awareness Month, we’re launching this collaboration in August as a powerful lead-in to this fall’s KATwalk on Saturday, September 27 at America’s Cup Harbor. We want to use the days leading up to that event to educate, uplift, and inspire.

When you buy our KAT6 Blend this month, you’re not just enjoying a great cup — you’re helping kids like Franco and Kettner get access to therapy, adaptive equipment, and something every parent dreams of for their child: the gift of communication.

“These Empowered Grants allow children like Franco to speak, to move, to thrive. They are game-changers. Life-changers.” – Sara

How to Get Involved in This Year's KATwalk: 

Buy a bag of KAT6 blend: SHOP HERE

Join the team and walk alongside: https://donate.kat6a.org/team/753893

Donate Directly: https://donate.kat6a.org/team/753893

What Is the KAT6 Foundation?

The KAT6 Foundation was created by parents — families who faced the same overwhelming diagnosis and decided to turn fear into purpose. Today, it is the only organization in the world focused exclusively on KAT6A and KAT6B syndromes, providing hope and help to a growing global community.

Here’s what they do:

• Support Research: Funding cutting-edge studies to uncover how KAT6 affects the body and how we might one day treat it.
  
  
• Empower Families: Through financial assistance for communication tools, therapy sessions, and medical necessities.
  
  
• Build Community: Connecting families with one another and with medical experts through webinars, conferences, and support networks.
  
  
• Educate Clinicians: To improve diagnosis and care through expanded genetic research and outreach.

What Are KAT6A and KAT6B Syndromes?

KAT6A and KAT6B are genetic mutations that affect multiple organ systems and developmental processes in the body. They can cause a range of complex medical issues including:

• Global developmental delays
  
  
• Intellectual disabilities
  
  
• Feeding challenges and gastrointestinal issues
  
  
• Low muscle tone
  
  
• Speech, mobility, and communication barriers
  
  

Because these syndromes are so rare, families often face years of unanswered questions before receiving a diagnosis. Even after that, support and understanding are scarce. That’s why organizations like the KAT6 Foundation — and the awareness they generate — are so critically important.

Join Us on the Journey

Behind each rare diagnosis is a family trying to navigate the unknown. Behind each research grant is a child whose voice deserves to be heard. Behind each cup of coffee is the chance to make it all just a little bit easier.

We invite you to be part of that story.

Pick up a bag of Bird Rock’s KAT6 Blend this August and know that you're not just fueling your day — you're fueling hope.

Together, we can walk a little further, love a little harder, and brew something truly meaningful.

 Learn more or donate directly: kat6a.org
Join us for this year’s walk: Saturday, Sept. 27, America’s Cup Harbor