Some of the crew from Cigar City.
Staff members from three Tampa Bay area breweries are sacrificing something near and dear for a noble cause: These gents are shaving their beards and/or heads to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Institute, a Tampa-based nonprofit that focuses on funding research that will lead to the elimination of pediatric cancer worldwide.
The three wise guys from Barley Mow.
But there’s a problem. None of the breweries has yet reached its fundraising goal for the Cut for the Cure Charity Challenge. and the campaigns started a few weeks ago. Here is where they stand, as of this writing on March 25, 2015. (Click on the brewery name to donate and to find out more information):
- Cigar City Brewing Company
Goal: $5,000
Raised: $1,025 - Barley Mow Brewing Company
Goal: $5,000
Raised: $500 - Tangent Brewing Company
Goal: $3,000
Raised: $1,825
Rodney Sedillo, the hippiest of the Tangent Brewing team.
But, Gerard, are you going to put YOUR money where your mouth is?
Good question. I’ll try to find some wiggle room in my budget to make a monetary donation. But here is what I know that I can do.
As a supporter of and advocate for the Florida craft beer community, I would like to see all three of the participating breweries reach their fundraising goals by the event.
If that happens, I shall join the teams at the Cigar City brewery on April 9, 2015, and contribute my facial fuzz to the cause. Granted, my goatee is not as impressive as some of the other chin hair headed for the floor, but I’ve grown quite fond of it. It’s likely been close to 15 years since I’ve been clean-shaven – very briefly – but if it helps children win battles against cancer, there is no question that it’s worth it.
(UPDATE: I have been made aware that the groups can raise their goals once the original one is met. My offer is contingent on the goals mentioned in this post).
And anyone familiar with the craft brewing industry knows how important beards are to its mystique – Heck, Rogue Ales in Oregon brewed a beer a few years ago that used yeast harvested from a brewer’s beard.
Circa age 13. My beard didn’t come in for another year.
So go to those links above and support the brewers, get them to their goals, and find out why I rarely have been sans beard for most of my adult life.
Please.
P.S. According to the charity rating site CharityNavigator.org, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation is rated at 98.60 out of 100 for Financial and 100 of 100 for Accountability & Transparency. It’s such a great group.
