Though one of San Diego’s smaller breweries, 2kids Brewing is looking to make a big impact through its humanitarian efforts. Owners Rob and Sam Dufau recently founded an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called The Brainstorm Society to raise funds to support brain tumor research as well as brain tumor patients and their families.
“We want to remove some of the stigma that prevents people from getting involved with brain tumor fundraising and help make treatment an easier time in the lives of affected families,” says Rob. “Depending on how our fundraising goals go, we plan to donate both to existing brain tumor charities like the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) and the San Diego Brain Tumor Foundation, and set up scholarships and grants to benefit those working in the brain tumor fields.”
The Dufaus originally became interested in this charitable avenue through their close friends, Christina and Joe Ellis, who were affected by a brain tumor and subsequently became very involved with the NBTS. In 2017, 2kids Brewing donated 100% of total income earned—more than $2,000—from its fourth anniversary festivities to the NBTS. After that, they had hoped to hold a beer festival stocked with local breweries, but that was difficult due to licensing issues, so they went with the non-profit in order to be able to raise money in a variety of ways..including the Brainstorm Beer Festival that is currently in planning (with date TBD).
“We’ve already done a small pub-crawl event to raise some funds to open our first bank account. The Miralani Makers’ District was a great help in putting that together, and we plan to do more events in the District over the coming months and years,” says Rob, speaking of the Miramar commercial area 2kids’ brewery is located within.
Rob and Sam say they haven’t been as excited to work on something as they are right now for some time. Even though it is a bit like having two jobs and they know it will get crazy (in a good way), they are eager to get to work and make a difference.