Breweries and beer events rely on the continued patronage of customer support to be successful. So, when a prosperous beer business gets the opportunity, they should be giving back. Craft Credo No. 1: Serve your community first. Craft credo No. 3: embrace philanthropy. We’d like to salute these three beer businesses for upholding our made up philosophies about craft beer.
Start off with the Treasure Chest event video above from Green Flash Brewing Co. Established in 2011 by Green Flash Co-Founder and breast cancer survivor Lisa Hinkley, this annual fundraising program raises money to support breast cancer charities. Each year, Green Flash releases a limited-edition beer and hosts events from coast to coast. Cheers to that, GF, and cheers to these folks…
Ninkasi Brewing proves Beer is Love with $37K nonprofit donation
Launched January 2017, independent brewer, Ninkasi Brewing Co., kicked off a four-month campaign to donate a portion of its seasonal beer sales to three national nonprofit organizations. Through its Beer is Love donation program, the brewery pledged a donation of $1 per case and $7 per keg sold of its Believer Double Red to Team River Runner, Women Who Code and Conscious Alliance. Ending April 30, 2017, the brewery raised $37,776 to support the work of these three nonprofits.
“We established Beer is Love to give back to nonprofits in all the states where our beer is sold,” explained Emilie Hartvig, national donations manager for Ninkasi and its Beer is Love program. “We believe beer unites and builds community; our Believer campaign offered fans an easy way to help support that cause by enjoying some delicious beer at the same time.”
Created in 2012, Ninkasi’s Beer is Love program supports nonprofits doing work in five core categories: women, equality, recreation, the environment and arts and music.
“We brought back Believer as our first seasonal of the year, donating a portion of its sales was a natural fit to celebrate its re-release,” said Hartvig. “Our team hand-selected three national nonprofits to benefit from the campaign, all representing pillars of our Beer is Love program.”
The three benefiting nonprofits include Team River Runner, a volunteer-driven organization offering wounded and disabled veterans the opportunity to regain independence with an adventurous, adaptive paddle sports program; Women Who Code, international nonprofit dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers; and Conscious Alliance, an organization supporting communities in crisis through emergency food relief; empowerment programs for impoverished youth; and nutrition, exercise and gardening education for youth in economically isolated Native American reservations.
To encourage continued participation throughout the campaign, Ninkasi fans and nonprofit supporters were asked not only to enjoy a pint of Believer Double Red but also to cast an online vote for their selected nonprofit. Votes were tallied and used to determine how the final donation pool would be allocated among the three organizations: first place receiving 50 percent, second receiving 30 percent, and third receiving 20 percent.
In total, more than 6,000 votes were cast putting Team River Runner in first place receiving a 50 percent of the donation pool, Women Who Code in second place with 30 percent and Conscious Alliance with 20 percent.
“We are so appreciative of Ninkasi for having Team River Runner be a part of this thoughtful campaign,” explained Joe Mornini, Team River Runner executive director. “Ninkasi’s desire to support organizations that give back to our community is inspiring; we are honored to call Ninkasi part of our national family dedicated to healing and empowerment of veterans and their families.”
“A donation of over $18K is no small gesture; this donation will enable us to open our programming to even more veterans, including those who are blind or visually impaired,” said Mornini. Team River Runner plans to use the Believer donation to kick-start its Vision Team: a new program offering opportunities and clinics for blind or visually disabled veterans who want to improve their kayaking skills.
“The support for these nonprofits over the past four months was nothing short of outstanding and moving,” stated Hartvig. “Not only are we excited to see how these organizations use the funds but also to see increased awareness for the work they are doing.”
Learn more about Ninkasi’s Beer is Love program, here: www.beerislove.com.
Harrisburg Beer Week donates $25K to Harrisburg River Rescue & Emergency Services
Harrisburg Beer Week organizers recently awarded $25,000 to its exclusive beneficiary, Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services, taking its total over three years to $85,000 to the nonprofit emergency response team. A check presentation took place at Zeroday Brewing Co.
The donation was raised from proceeds from Harrisburg Beer Week, which ran April 21-29, 2017. The nine-day annual event celebrates the local craft beer community while serving as a fundraiser for Harrisburg River Rescue.
“We are so encouraged by the way the community at large continues to embrace Harrisburg Beer Week each year,” said Sara Bozich, Harrisburg Beer Week Co-founder. “We continue to be impressed with the creativity and initiative of our sponsors, breweries, and venues who work hard to create something special during this nine-day series.
“Many breweries collaborate on special, one-time-only beers for Harrisburg Beer Week; bars, restaurants work with their craft beer representatives to host unique events; and our sponsors utilize their products and abilities to help further the greater Harrisburg area craft beer community,” Bozich said. “And of course, it wouldn’t be without the help of the ever-thirsty customers and beer travelers who show up in droves to these events and buy these beers, all for the benefit of Harrisburg Beer Week and Harrisburg River Rescue.”
Harrisburg River Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer organization that provides community based, high quality, cost effective water rescue and emergency services for the residents of the southcentral Pennsylvania region.
“We at Harrisburg River Rescue continue to be in awe over the support of Harrisburg Beer Week, the volunteers that made each event happen, and the endless support of the community,” said Tony Reigle, Fundraising Chairman, Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services. “We continue to appreciate every bit of it and feel honored to return our support and service to our community.”
Facts about Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services
- HRRES was Pennsylvania’s first water search and rescue organization. It is widely considered one of the best in and around the state.
- A self-sufficient nonprofit, 100 percent volunteer organization, HRRES is not a funded entity of the City of Harrisburg or state of Pennsylvania.
- HRRES lost their former station during Tropical Storm Lee while performing rescue operations.
- Today, they’re working hard to renovate a former HVAC warehouse to reduce response time and provide a much-needed modern training facility.
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