Fernie Brewing Company today announced its “Cheers to Charity” fund has now passed the $100,000 mark.

There have been over 29 recipients since its inception in December 2013, and today the Fernie Brewing Company (FBC) announced its “Cheers to Charity!” Fund has passed the $100,000 mark. This week Fernie Brewing Company delivered a cheque for $5,265 to its most recent recipient, the Elk River Alliance, bringing this year’s total to $27,643 and total donations since the program’s inception to $101,843.

As with many local businesses in the small, supportive community of Fernie, FBC receives hundreds of requests each year for monetary, and other, donations. Unable to fulfill them all, the company was looking for a creative way to commit larger donations, with the hope of making a real difference. As such “Cheers to Charity!” was born, and all profits from each Sample Flight sold in FBC’s Tasting Room goes directly to a group within the community.

“When we started the program, we were hoping to make a positive impact in the community by providing larger donations to local organizations,”says Lenka Hawrys, Marketing Communications Manager at FBC. “Our initial donations were under $500, but now we are regularly donating over $5,000 which has a truly meaningful impact. “We are often one of the first contributors to a project, which can really help get new projects up and running. It really has been fun seeing these projects come to fruition, like the Fernie Nordic Society Hut. Craft beer and community go hand in hand, it’s a way for our customers to make their beer count!”

A Sample Flight consists of four FBC beers, fresh from their taps, and is a great way for guests to find their favourite while drinking for a worthy cause.

Past recipients have included the Fernie Trails Alliance, Elk Valley Hospice, Fernie Friends of Refugees, Fernie Seniors Society, Fernie Adaptive Ski, Elk River Alliance, Wildsafe BC, The Fernie Nordic Society, Fernie Friends for Friends and more.

Currently, donations are being collected for the Fernie Pride Society, who will be on the board until September 30th, followed by the Fernie Wranglers Cabin Rebuild Project – a partnership between the Snow Valley Wranglers and the Fernie Snowmobile Association.

The four main requirements of FBC’s “Cheers to Charity!” program are:

  • Donations must directly benefit the local community of Fernie
  • Benefit a group, as opposed to an individual or team
  • Recipients must be of legal drinking age
  • Requesting funding to help programs, which without support, would not be able to operate

If you are a local, Fernie organization looking for funding and you meet the above requirements, please apply via FBC’s website.