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<\/p>\nThe craft beer world is something truly remarkable. There is so much heart: in supporting creativity, in supporting one another, and in appreciating the community that supports them. I feel honored and proud to be even the tiniest bit part of this community.<\/p>\n
We are all now well aware of the horror that took place on Monday, April 15th at the Boston Marathon: an atrocity in a great city that we have not seen the likes of since 9\/11. The effects have been devastating: four people are dead, over 200 more injured and our city is left with the impact of overwhelming emotional distress in the wake of this senseless act of violence and the week that followed.<\/p>\n
That was how so many of us felt: \u201cour city\u201d. Big Papi probably said it best in a not-so-eloquent fashion, but he still said what was on all of our hearts. This city is ours, so are the people in it, and now came the time for us to take care of our own. That is exactly what the amazing people at Jack\u2019s Abby Brewing stepped up to do.<\/p>\n
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Just forty eight hours after a terrorist attack rocked our city, the craft beer community came together in an event to raise money for the victims of the Marathon Day bombings. The idea began with David Carlson at Marshall Wharf Brewing Company and was then organized by Eric Hendler of Jack\u2019s Abby Brewing. Twenty five brewers came forward, each reaching out to Eric asking to participate as all were eager to be involved in supporting this effort. Raffle items came from various vendors \u201c26 gift certificates coming from Craft Beer Cellar, Berman’s, Blanchards, Zaftig’s, Skybox, Brookline Liquor Mart, as well as a plethora of high end beer including Night Shift, Mystic, Westvleteren, Cantillion, Russion River, and many others.\u201d (according to Jack Hendler) and were quickly donated as soon as requests were made. The out pouring of generosity from so many was simply remarkable.<\/p>\n
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Paul Sanford of The Tavern in Framingham (hometown of Jack\u2019s Abby Brewery) was contacted and proved more than willing to provide the space for this fund raising event to take place. He even brought on extra staff for the evening to provide service for the massive amount of attendees.<\/p>\n
All of the beer was donated and one hundred percent of the proceeds from beer sales and raffle tickets at this event were donated to the One Fund Boston, a charitable fund set up to raise money to help pay for the catastrophic medical expenses that the victims of this bombing were now facing.<\/p>\n
I was in attendance the night of this fund raiser. Even though everyone there was enjoying truly fantastic craft beer and the atmosphere seemed light and jovial, there was not a soul there who did not feel personally affected by the tragic events of Marathon Monday. This was very apparent when the room fell silent as the national anthem began playing on the television. As all in attendance started to sing the Star Spangled Banner, an enormous feeling of pride resonated through the crowd. A thunderous cheer erupted with the conclusion of our country\u2019s most treasured song and it was beautiful.<\/p>\n
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So what was it that prompted the people of Jack\u2019s Abby to take action? Did they have any employees who were affected by the attack? No, thank goodness. Did they have friends or loved ones who were injured or present during the bombings? Of course they did. We all did: our city Boston. It\u2019s our city, and we take care of our own. These guys worked as hard as they could and pulled off a huge event that came together in less than twenty four hours and raised over $8,800 for the One Fund Boston.<\/p>\n
This amazing effort is a huge tribute to humanity, honor, community and perseverance. Our craft beer community did not hesitate to immediately jump in and take action. There is still so much work to be done as our city continues on the path to recovery, and it\u2019s incredible people like David at Marshall Wharf, Paul at The Tavern, Eric and the staff at Jack\u2019s Abby, all the brewers that donated and everyone who showed up to support the event that will keep Boston on that path. When I asked Jack Hendler of Jack\u2019 Abby why they wanted to take on such an incredible task, he responded \u201cto make people feel better and to start the healing process\u201d. That is what this craft beer community came to do and exactly what happened that evening. There were heroes on the streets of Boston that fateful day, and these guys, through organizing this event, are heroes still.<\/p>\n
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\nJack\u2019s Abby would like to thank all the breweries that donated beer (listed below), The Tavern, Marshall\u2019s Wharf, all the vendors who donated raffle items and all the attendees who came out and so generously gave.<\/p>\n
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