Granite Coast Brewing's Online Games Raise Funds For Charity

Press release from Granite Coast Brewing:

July 8, 2020

Granite Coast Brewing Company will be hosting its second “Trivia for a Cause,” an online general knowledge trivia game to benefit One Mission Buzz Off, a pediatric cancer charity.

The event will be the second online trivia game to raise funds for a charity. Arising from ongoing social events hosted by the brewery, the fundraisers grew organically from suggestions from its guests. Granite Coast Co-Owner and Head Brewer Jeff Marquis explained, “When COVID-19 hit us, like every other business, we were hit financially. But we were also hit socially. We miss our guests and spending time with our friends. We wanted to stay connected, but also maybe meet some new friends.” Marquis continued, “So in mid-April, we started online trivia and Scattergories games hosted by our staff. These great opportunities to give back came from those games.”

Granite Coast’s Marketing and Events Manager Amy Luckiewicz detailed more, “By hosting these online games, we met a bunch of new people. They became regulars, and I like to think that we all became new friends.” In fact, it was three of the online “regulars” Kristen Almquist-Cevallos, Amy Mucci and Chris Mucci that had the idea of offering a fundraiser. The first was to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). Almquist-Cevallos detailed, “We are living in a chaotic and trying time. All of our communities have people in need, but it’s clear that COVID has had a disproportionate negative effect on certain communities.” She added, “We chose the GBFB because it serves the communities who have felt the greatest impact when you look at the effects of the virus. Hosting this event allowed us to show we care for the hardest hit communities and families.”

After learning about the costs associated with hosting an online trivia event, Granite Coast quickly decided to sponsor the fundraiser by offering use of their online group video account and paying for a trivia host. Marquis noted, “It was an easy decision. We want to give back too, but the cash flow has significantly slowed. This was an affordable way for us to help.” Hosted in mid-June, the event raised over $2,500 and provided more than 6,000 meals for the Greater Boston Food Bank.

It was through this event that the group learned about One Mission Buzz Off. Almquis-Cevallos explained, “At the end of our first fundraiser game, we heard about One Mission Buzz Off from Marc Filipiak. Marc was playing in our game. He’s raises money for One Mission by shaving his head and immediately, we were interested in supporting his charity too.” The same night Almquist-Cevallos, Amy and Chris Mucci, and their friends contacted Granite Coast and offered charity fundraiser to benefit One Mission. Luckiewicz noted, “I immediately called Marc. He’s my cousin and I knew his commitment to One Mission. We started planning that night.”

According to One Mission’s website, the charity, “does whatever it takes to get kids through cancer. One Mission programs make living in the hospital less lonely and stressful, bring back joy in a time of fear and uncertainty, and give kids and their loved ones the support they need to get through the emotional and financial challenges of treatment.”

Filipiak added, “The offer from complete strangers and Granite Coast to host this fundraiser was beyond generous. They’re helping me so much and I’m so glad that one hundred percent of what we raise will go to One Mission. These kids with cancer deserve it.”

“We’re thrilled that these online games have grown into these connections. We’re grateful to people like Amy, Chris, Kristen and Marc for letting us be a part of something bigger.” Luckiewicz noted, “And right now, all of us, even our small business, could need that feeling of being part of something bigger.”

Trivia for a Cause: One Mission will be held on Thursday, July 16th at 8pm. Entry is just $10 per device to play and multiple people can play on the same team from different locations. Prizes will be awarded to the top teams and raffles will be available for generous donors.

To join in the Trivia for a Cause: One Mission game or for more information, please contact Amy Luckiewicz at granitecoastevents@gmail.com or visit their Facebook event page. Pre-registration is required.

This press release was produced by Granite Coast Brewing. The views expressed here are the author's own.