Everybody loves a party, especially one that features good beer. And, there’s no better party than one that not only entertains, but also helps raise money for a community, a charity or a worthy cause.
The employees of Western Reserve Brewing know this scenario quite well.
“Everyone here is involved with some charitable organization that they feel strongly about,” explains Steve Louzos, marketing and public relations manager for the Cleveland-based brewery. “From our owners, Gavin Smith and Andrew Craze, to myself, and all the way through the organization, our involvement from a company perspective is sort of the logical sequitur of taking all that energy and putting it toward an event or cause that we can all get behind.”
Western Reserve’s typical modus operandi is unique because state law prohibits breweries from donating beer outright, explains Louzos. Instead, the brewery invoices an organization for the beer used at an event. The organization pays the bill. Then Western Reserve makes a cash contribution to the organization for the amount of the bill.
“What happens is that that expense for the beer portion of the event is eliminated,” Louzos says.
Since 1999, Western Reserve has donated more than $18,000 using this method.
The organizations that have benefited from its generosity are a virtual who’s who of Northeast Ohio’s cultural elite, including Cleveland Clinic’s Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the American Red Cross. But the brewers have also helped other community groups as well — Phan Scholarship Fund, Project Learn, Shaker Lakes Nature Center, The Kidney Foundation and Community Shares, among the notables.
“One of the more significant ones we’re involved with is Harvest for Hunger,” Louzos says. “We’re not just there to raise the visibility of hunger in the community, but we’re also there to do something about it. If we can help a group raise money to aid their cause, then we’re doing what we set out to do.”
At least one cause has a personal history. Craze, the company’s president and brewmaster, is the recipient of two heart transplants. So it should come as no surprise that Western Reserve is heavily involved with the American Heart Association.
Western Reserve also donates space in its Commerce Avenue brewery to organizations for events. And, nearly twice a month, the brewers contribute silent auction packages — a mixed case of Western Reserve beer, a poster signed by the founders, Craze and Smith, two pint glasses and a tour for 12 of the brewery — to a variety of charities.
This package, says Louzos, has an approximate value of $150 and has averaged nearly $175 in revenue for the groups that have been its recipient.
Louzos says that although co-founders Smith and Craze are involved with numerous groups, they don’t preach the necessity of community giving as a company edict. But, it’s certainly a belief that has trickled down through the organization to its dozen or so employees.
“No one person drives it here,” Louzos says. “It’s a companywide philosophy. We’re grateful for what we have.
“And, as part of being a responsible corporate citizen, we want to give some of that back.” How to reach: Western Reserve Brewing, (216) 361-2888
Dustin Klein ([email protected]) is editor of SBN.
