The 18th Annual Southern Brewers Festival, hosted by Big River Grille & Brewing Works, is coming back to Chattanooga, Tennessee, this August. Last year’s event raised $150,000 in proceeds, which were donated to Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block.
For the past six years, Big River Grille & Brewing Works has donated the proceeds from the festival to Kids on the Block, totaling in $700,000 in donations.
“It continues to be a pleasure to work with the team from Big River Grille & Brewing Works on the Southern Brewers Festival,” said Executive Director of Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block, Kelly Williams. “The annual proceeds from each festival mark the largest single donation Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block receives each year. The positive impact this donation has on our area is priceless.”
According to Williams, contributions from the festival have allowed the organization to increase the number of programs performed to over 400 yearly free of charge to schools in the region, increase the number of children and adults served from 35,000 children and adults served yearly to 54,000 served last year alone, provide additional resource materials for educators and parents focused on healthy lifestyle choices, host six free community events (like Pinwheels for Prevention, which focuses on child abuse awareness), and more.
“This past year’s event was the largest ever with over 32 regional brewers and over 12,000 people in attendance,” says Director of Marketing for CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, Kelly Wilson. “We are thrilled to present this check to Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block as this will help them continue their mission of educating children and giving them skills to stay safe and healthy. Big River Grille takes pride in philanthropic efforts within our communities and is privileged to give back by helping provide unique educational opportunities for children and adults within our region. We sincerely believe in the work that Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block does in our region and we are proud to be able to help make a difference in the lives of others.”
The organization has provided schools in 14 counties in Tennessee and North Georgia with free of charge programs designed to teach children and adults about social concerns and differences.
This year’s event will take place on August 25th from 2:00pm – midnight and feature over 75 craft-brewed premium ales and lagers, as well as many food vendors selling anything from tasty gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to Tex-Mex. Last years festival also included performances by Grammy Award Winning Los Lobos.
For more information on the festival, or Kids on the Block, visit their website.
Posted by Melanie Figueroa
06/17/12
