Record Turnout for Southern Brewers Festival Generates Record $100k Big River Grille & Brewing Works Donation to Chattanooga Kids on the Block Charity
1/12/2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chattanooga, TN (01/12/09) – In a time marked by dwindling charity contributions, Big River Grille & Brewing Works significantly bucked the trend this week by presenting a record $100,000 check to Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block, a United Way charity that provides free programs to teach children and adults about social concerns and differences in a non-threatening manner. The donation, generated by the 14th Annual Southern Brewers Festival sponsored by Big River Grille & Brewing Works each year, represents an increase of more than 60 percent over the previous year’s contribution and marks the largest single contribution the charity has received.
“This donation is significant not only because of its size, but also the timing. With the current stress on our economy, personal safety is an increasingly important issue for children everywhere and it’s crucial that we continue our work uninterrupted,” said Kelly Williams, Executive Director of Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block. “Businesses like Big River make a difference by giving our community the tools and resources that are vital to enhancing local quality of life.”
In total, Big River has donated more than $235,000 to Kids on the Block since the partnership began three years ago.
“We’ve been a part of the Chattanooga community for more than 15 years and are proud to support an organization like Chattanooga Kids on the Block that works so hard to improve the lives of children in our hometown,” said Kelly Wilson, Director of Marketing for Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Inc. “Community involvement and charitable giving are core principals of our corporate culture and we are dedicated to making a difference in every city where we have a presence.”
The Southern Brewers Festival is held each August and features over 20 microbreweries from the Southeast, attracting more than 8,000 beer lovers for a day of fun, festivities, food, beer, and music. In total, over 44 premium ales and lagers are sampled during the day-long event and entertainment is provided. All profits from the event benefit Chattanooga Kids on the Block.
About Gordon Biersch (Parent company of Big River Grille & Brewing Works)
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Inc offer a sophisticated casual dining setting featuring premium quality food and authentic handcrafted German lagers brewed strictly in accordance with the German Purity Law, Reinheitsgebot (Rine-HEIGHTS-g (shwaw)-boat), that mandates the use of only malt, hops, water and yeast in the brewing process. Hearty main dishes include fresh fish, beef selections, traditional pastas and stir-fry as well as special menus for each brewery restaurant based on local cuisine and seasonal availability of the freshest ingredients.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Inc. operates a total of 37 Gordon Biersch locations including Honolulu, Seattle, Las Vegas, Denver, Tempe, Virginia, Atlanta, Arizona, Miami, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Columbus, Ohio. The brewery restaurant group also owns and operates Big River Breweries in Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee and Disney's Board Walk in Orlando. Other concepts include Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurant in Atlanta and Charlotte; A1A Ale Works in St. Augustine, Florida; Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery in Jacksonville, Florida; Ragtime Tavern & Seafood Grill in Atlantic Beach, Florida; and Bluewater Grille in Chattanooga.
About Chattanooga Kids on the Block
For the past 29 years, CKOB has used life size puppets designed to teach children and adults about social concerns and differences in a non-threatening manner giving them skills to stay safe and healthy. The programs are free of charge to schools in twelve different counties thanks to funding from United Way, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Mental Heath Association of Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society Alliance, Chattanooga Area Brain Injury Association, Tennessee Donor Services, individual donors and fundraisers such as the Southern Brewers Festival.
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Media Contact:
Kelly Wilson
(423) 424-2000