ESCONDIDO, CA. – Stone Brewing Co. has contributed more than $400,000 to charity in 2012, thanks to loyal fans, dedicated volunteers, compatriots in craft brewing, and a stellar group of Team Stone employees. As with previous years, 2012 was packed with charitable endeavors that benefited a variety of organizations across the U.S.
“Every year we strive to donate to charities that enhance the communities they serve,” said Stone CEO and co-founder Greg Koch. “2012 was no different and we are proud to have contributed more money to deserving charities than we did in 2011. But the real praise goes to the people working for these charities that continue to improve our communities and provide services to individuals and families. Cheers to them!”
2012 charitable contributions include:
Stone 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival
On August 17 and 18, Stone held its annual 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival. 43 breweries donated kegs of beer, 305 volunteers donated their time, and 280 Team Stone employees worked the two-day event. The fruit of their labor — 100 percent of the profits from the festival, $240,000 in all, were donated to local charities including: Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, Fight ALD, Palomar Family YMCA, Surfrider Foundation, and the California State University San Marcos Foundation
Dyehards for Charity
A cadre of more than 75 brave Team Stone and community members dyed their hair red in the name of charity. The “Dyehards” were successful in raising more than $50,000 in funds for Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County, and San Diego Blood Bank
The Alchemist / Ninkasi / Stone More Brown Than Black IPA
Stone donated $86,373.61 to ReBuild Waterbury and $30,000 to Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund for efforts to restore Waterbury, VT, a community that was damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The proceeds are from the sale of the collaboration beer, The Alchemist / Ninkasi / Stone More Brown Than Black IPA, brewed in December 2011 with Ninkasi Brewing Company of Eugene, OR and The Alchemist Pub and Brewery of Waterbury. The Alchemist Pub and Brewery was one of the unfortunate casualties of Tropical Storm Irene.
San Diego Blood Bank
Stone hosted two blood drives in support of the San Diego Blood Bank. A two-day drive in March resulted in 46 units of blood collected, equating to 138 lives saved, and a two-day drive in September resulted in collecting 50 units of blood, equating to 150 lives saved.
Thanksgiving Dinners
Stone will donate 45 complete Thanksgiving meals to Casa de Amparo, an organization that treats and prevents child abuse and neglect throughout San Diego County, and five complete dinners to the Oceanside Yacht Club, who provides the dinners to Camp Pendleton Marines.
Additionally, Stone has supported more than 300 local, regional and national charities by donating nearly $250,000 worth of Stone beer for fundraising events.
About Stone Brewing Co.
Stone Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch in North County San Diego. It is the 11th largest craft brewery in the United States and has been named “All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine – TWICE! The brewery recently announced more than $50 million in expansion plans that include Stone Packaging Hall, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens — Liberty Station, and the future Stone Hotel among other lofty ventures. For more information, please visit stonebrewing.com, follow on Twitter or “like” on Facebook.