{"id":12624,"date":"2016-01-06T08:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-01-06T16:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archives.csusm.edu\/westcoastersd\/?p=12624"},"modified":"2016-01-02T13:16:18","modified_gmt":"2016-01-02T21:16:18","slug":"beer-to-the-rescue-raises-50000-for-lupus-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archives.csusm.edu\/westcoastersd\/2016\/01\/06\/beer-to-the-rescue-raises-50000-for-lupus-foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"Beer to the Rescue raises $50,000 for Lupus Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"b2tr_01\"<\/a> In 2014, I was diagnosed with lupus after several years steadily suffering wide-ranging symptoms of this auto-immune disease. Being a chronic condition, I continue to struggle with it, but 2015 offered uplifting rays of hope courtesy of nearly 40 breweries contributing to the Beer to the Rescue<\/a> <\/strong>campaign. And thanks to the immense efforts of those brewing companies and the many people who helped local lupus sufferers simply by drinking some amazing beers, nearly $50,000 was raised in the program\u2019s inaugural year. That money went directly to the Lupus Foundation of Southern California<\/a> <\/strong>(LFSC), a non-profit organization assisting lupus victims in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Funds raised will help support day-to-day operations, continue its existing local support and education programs (all of which are provide to lupus sufferers free-of-charge), fund lupus research and establish a scholarship grant.<\/p>\n

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Oceanside Ale Works had custom glassware created for its beer-release fundraiser<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I came up with the idea for Beer to the Rescue shortly after receiving my diagnosis. I was determined to do more than let this little-known, under-researched disease take from me without attempting to do something positive to help myself and others in my shoes. The idea was to reach out to San Diego County breweries and gauge their interest in brewing special beers to help raise funds for the LFSC. If there\u2019s one thing I know about our local brewers it\u2019s that, in addition to making exceptional beer, they have proven time and time again how enthusiastic they are about jumping in and helping worthy causes. I just hoped they\u2019d view Beer to the Rescue as a worthwhile endeavor. To the great pleasure of myself and the LFSC, many did. Over 90% of the breweries that I contacted agreed to participate. More than that, once news got out about the campaign, a number of additional breweries got in touch with me and graciously offered to take part. This year saw more than 45 events support this campaign. Many were release parties for the specialty fundraising beers that were created for Beer to the Rescue (many of which were spotlighted in Beer of the Week coverage via West Coaster<\/em><\/strong><\/a>), but businesses\u2019 generosity didn\u2019t stop there.<\/p>\n

\"b2tr_05\"<\/a>Unable to fit fundraising beers into its brew schedule, Societe Brewing Co.<\/a> <\/strong>made Beer to the Rescue its Charity of the Month for June, contributing a portion of proceeds earned each Tuesday of that month to the LFSC. Port Brewing Co.<\/a><\/strong>\/The Lost Abbey<\/a><\/strong>\/The Hop Concept<\/strong><\/a> was in the same boat, so they simply wrote a check. Urge Gastropub<\/strong><\/a> contributed proceeds from a two-day tap-takeover, The Patio Restaurant Group<\/strong><\/a> held a special promotion during San Diego Beer Week<\/strong><\/a> and Quad Ale House<\/a> <\/strong>held a special Beer to the Rescue-themed BeerNerdz<\/strong> pairing event. Meanwhile Stone Brewing Co.<\/a> <\/strong>contributed a dollar from every tour at its Escondido brewery during the third quarter of 2015 and gave Beer to the Rescue its very own booth at the Stone 19th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival (the West Coast’s largest annual beer festival). Similarly, the campaign was given a spot at both the East County Craft Beer Invitational<\/strong> and San Diego Brewers Guild<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s Rhythm and Brews<\/strong> fest.<\/p>\n

But like so many things in San Diego, it was mostly about the beer. The following is the extensive list of widely varied and, often, experimental-to-the-point-of-courageous brews created or utilized to raise funds for Beer to the Rescue.<\/p>\n