October 29, 2018 - Let It Be Us - Young Professional Group

Thank you to our Fall 2018 event host Lagunitas Brewing Company with gourmet food provided by Dietz & Watson.  

October's event was filled with great presentations from local charities, six live auctions and a raffle which included a wheelbarrow of beer. 

Charities presented to our membership, providing attendees with the information -needed to select their desired deserving charity.  We heard from Toma Dobrosavljevic presenting the National Association of Park Foundations, Matt Matusiak presenting the Youth Camp Association and Patrick Noonan presenting Let It Be Us - Young Professionals Group.

April 16, 2018 - The GardenWorks Project

A warm congratulations to winning charity The GardenWorks Project.  Our contribution of $8,000 represents nearly 10% of their annual budget  Among their services, The GardenWorks Project provides home gardening programs for food insecure families and partners with food pantries & social service organizations to identify families interested in growing their own food.

Thanks to Manny's Ale House for hosting & for Manny generously donating the great craft beer from Capital Brewery.  Supper Club & Maibock were refreshing spring brews, and Barrel-Aged Fishin' in the Dark was mysteriously good!  Thanks to Head Brewer Ashley Kinart for generously donating cases of limited release ales & lagers while sharing her story of Capital Brewery.

January 15th, 2018: Little City

A warm congratulations to winning charity, Little City, presented by Hops for Humanity member John Jevitz. Little City is dedicated to serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing the best options and opportunities to live safely, learn continuously, explore creatively and work productively throughout their lifetime.

We are grateful for the presentations from Nilesh Reshamwala for Allow Good and Don Woznica for Community Health as our two other nominated charities.  Please support these organizations as they align with your personal charitable goals!

October 16, 2017: Fill a Heart for Kids

Fill a Heart 4 Kids was born when the McAveeney family began taking in homeless children in the Chicagoland area in 2007. As time passed, they learned that there were many kids living in children's homes who believed no one wanted them. They needed to feel loved and remembered especially on special occasions like birthdays and Valentine's Day.

Fill a Heart 4 Kids' "Mission"... is to help our vulnerable homeless youths and nearly forgotten foster children living in institutions to feel loved and remembered.   

Fill a Heart 4 Kids' "Vision"... is for our homeless and foster children to feel loved and to move forward with confidence, self esteem and a purpose in life.

How We Show Them "We Care"... Our We Care Packages and loving cards that are packed by our "We Care" Community gives at-risk kids hope! Our Community does everything possible to help these precious kids feel valued, loved and respected.

We look forward to hearing from our Winners tell us more about the organization during our January 15th event at Pints in Elmhurst. Beer will be provided by Seery Athlone Brewing Co.

Great thanks to our event host Skeleton Key Brewery!

July 17, 2017: Ray Graham Association

Congratulations to winning charity, the Ray Graham Association, presented by Hops for Humanity member John Jevitz. Benefiting their group home in Villa Park, the Hops for Humanity donation will be used to help 'Empower those with Disabilities'. We look forward to hearing from Ray Graham at our October 16th event at Skeleton Key Brewery. 

Thanks to Yoli Alvin for presenting The Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope and Jeff Budgell for presenting the Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts. It was great to learn more about those organizations.

Thank you to July event host Shoeless Joe's in Addison and beer sponsor Scorched Earth Brewing Co. 

April 17, 2017: Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry

Nominated and presented by Art Slowinski , we will be fortunate to present a winner's a check in the amount of $10,000 to Elmhurst Yorkfield Food Pantry. The purpose of the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry is for the charitable distribution of food for the relief of hunger to our neighbors in Elmhurst and the surrounding communities. 

The biggest take away from Monday night - every $1.00 donation is worth $8.00. So with the roughly $10,000 donation from Hops for Humanity, the food pantry can purchase $80,000 in food to feed those in need. Its crazy how many people and families we are helping!

We also want to thank Joyce Sloan for presenting Elmhurst Heritage Foundation and Kevin Williams for presenting Everyone Reading Illinois.  

There was also a nice presentation from our last winning charity, We Grow Dreams. The much needed donation will help with repairs to one of their greenhouses, as well as other maintenance items plus help with emergencies in the future.

We look forward to hearing from our Winners tell us more about the organization during our July 17th event at Shoeless Joe's Ale House & Grill - Addison. Beer will be provided by Scorched Earth Brewing Co.

Thanks to our April host, Imperial Oak Brewing for hosting our 10th event, they did such an awesome job. Thank you to Grant Hamilton and the staff at Imperial Oak.  

January 16, 2017: We Grow Dreams

Congratulations to We Grow Dreams, Hops for Humanity presented them with a check for $10,600 on February 6, at Red Arrow Tap Room. 

Member Don Haraf presented for We Grow Dreams; their Mission is to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and to train and work in a supportive, safe and caring environment while producing and providing products and services to the community. In this pursuit, we honor the concepts of human dignity, respect, hard work, fellowship and friendship.

We look forward to hearing from We Grow Dreams as tell us more about the organization during our April 17th event at Imperial Oak Brewing. 

Here is a link to a recent article in the Tribune - Hops Donation

It was great learning about our other two nominated charities: Neil Driscoll presented Erie Family Health Center and Keith Olson presented the Elmhurst Symphony.

Thanks to our January host, Red Arrow Tap Room. Joe and his staff showed us a great time.

October 17, 2016: DuPage Senior Citizens Council

Thanks to David Tufte for presenting the Farther Foundation and Jeff Budgell for presenting the Elmhurst Center for the Performing Arts. Nominated and presented by Karen McClure, Dupage Senior Citizens Council was October's winning local 501c3 charity. 

Since 1975, the DuPage Senior Citizens Council has been providing a variety of programs Since 1975, the DuPage Senior Citizens Council has been providing a variety of programs and services to help seniors live safely in their homes and provide them the opportunity to maintain their well being. On November 15th, Hops for Humanity presented a $10,000 check to the DuPage Senior Citizens Council. The Council provides meals to 4,000 senior citizens in-need throughout DuPage County with its Meals on Wheels program and Community Dining meals. Additionally the Council provides over 1,100 Senior Chore days to the community. 

Attend the January 16th event at Red Arrow Tap Room in Elmhurst to see how our donation is being put to work!

July 11, 2016: Alyssa Alvin Foundation

Nominated and presented by Kevin McDermott, the Alyssa Alvin Foundation of Hope will receive the donations from this event.  Thanks to Sarah Richardt for presenting Lombard Historical Society and Patrick Sheehan for presenting Liv for a Cure. 

The Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope provides an opportunity for kids and young adults to explore their interests in music and visual arts while undergoing cancer treatments.  We believe these kids and young adults can benefit from having musical instruments and professional art supplies available to them. We have seen firsthand the joy that music and art brought to our precious daughter, Alyssa, as she went through her cancer treatments.  

Below is a note from Yoli, President of Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope and Alyssa's Mom. 

"We are grateful to the Hops for Humanity for their generous donation to the Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope. Being that our mission is to bring joy and hope through music and the arts to children and young adult cancer patients going through their medical treatments, we believe the Hops for Humanity donation will allow us to expand our programs in the following manner.

Music Gift Recipient Program - $250/young patient x 16 recipients = $4,000

Alyssa Starter Art Kits - $50 professional art kit/patient x 100 recipients = $5,000

We will be able to give to more young patients a bit of joy and hope in their lives that will carry them through the many treatments and the ups and downs they may experience in their journey."

Share Alyssa's love for the arts with everyone. Check out the article in the Elmhurst Independent.

April 11, 2016: Elmhurst Lions Club

Thanks to Doug McConnell for presenting A Long Swim,  Jim Worden for presenting Lions Elmhurst, and Susan McConnell for presenting Let It Be Us.  It is truly humbling to learn about the many deserving local charities that can benefit from our collective giving.    Our members chose Elmhurst Lions Club as the winner! 

The Elmhurst Lions Club has been a part of the Elmhurst Community since 1940.  In addition to helping  those individuals with sight and hearing disabilities, the Elmhurst Lions Club has partnered with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital on a new Diabetes Prevention Program as well as providing scholarships to local students and helping where needed throughout the community. 

The $10,000 donation which will almost DOUBLE our annual Giving Budget. Some of the planned uses may include the purchase of I-Pads for local students with visual impairments, expand our eyeglass program, and team up with local school to provide both vision and hearing screening.  In addition, we are in the early planning stage for future events in conjunction with the Elmhurst Hospital, which will provide vision and hearing screening, as well as diabetes awareness. The Elmhurst Lions Club and its Board of Directors are looking for forward to expanding our services through this generous donation for the vision and hearing impaired throughout the community.

On May 11th, we meet at Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst to present the check to Elmhurst Lions Club members. 

For more information about the Elmhurst Lions Club, please check out their website.

Check out the article in My Suburban Life.

January 12, 2016: SurviorVision

Hops for Humanity held our latest winter event at HB Jones in Elmhurst on January 11, 2016.   51st Ward was the featured beer and owner and master brewer Tim Hoerman was there to talk about his beer.   Member Craig Summerfield presented the charity Great Lakes Lab Rescue and member Ginger Wade presented the charity People for Elmhurst Parks.  Member Julia Stepenske presented the charity Survivorvision, and our members chose that charity as the winner! 

Thanks to everyone for making this another wonderful event. We raised $10,000 for the chosen charity.

SurvivorVision's beginning was quite personal.  Founder Julia Stepenske is a two time childhood cancer survivor and pediatric oncology nurse who embraced her childhood cancer experience, which led her to found SurvivorVision.  Their mission is to provide a network of support to survivors of pediatric cancer through advocacy and support groups in the community, funding to support research initiatives and educational programs and access to resources that enhance survivors' quality of life while minimizing cancer's long-term effects.  SurvivorVision is dedicated to aiding survivorship programs and organizations that provide the services needed to provide state of the art care, empowering education and to impact survivors across the country.

On February 9th, we meet at Marquette Kitchen and Tap in Lombard to present the check to SurvivorVision members. 

October 12, 2015: One Step Cancer Camp

Member Doug Stepenske presented the charity SurvivorVision and new member Ginger Wade presented the charity People for Elmhurst Parks.  Member Jon Leiman presented the charity One Step Cancer Camp, and our members chose that charity as the winner! 

One Step Cancer Camp gives camp experiences and other educational and excursion programs that allow children with cancer to just be kids.

Pictured are (back row, from left): Michael Williams, Patrick Sheehan, Jon Leiman, Jim Maguire, Mike Trajcevski; (front row): Julie Miller Sheehan, Patty Worden, Sam DeSimone, Kerry Leiman, Jeff Infensino, Denise Powell.  

July 13, 2015: Let It Be Us

New Member Susan McConnell presented the charity Let It Be Us, and our members chose that charity as the winner of the money we raised at the event. Member Jim Worden presented the charity Elmhurst Lions Club and Member Scott Glossner presented the charity DuPage PADS.   

Let It Be Us is a nonprofit dedicated to building awareness and inspiring the care and adoption of children within the foster care system. 

Total amount donated from the event: $10,100. 

April 13, 2015: Marklund Children's Home

After the votes were tallied, the winning charity was Marklund Children’s Home. Member Suresh Gami presented the charity Apnar Ghar and Member Todd Reifenrath presented the charity Bridge Communities.  Member Liliana Olalde presented the charity Marklund Children's Home.

Marklund Children’s Home is a nonprofit organization that serves infants, children, teens and adults with serious and profound developmental disabilities and special healthcare needs.  Hops for Humanity Board Members and member Liliana Olalde, who presented for the organization,  meet with representatives from Marklund Children’s Home on May 19, 2015, to present the check!  

Here is brief summary of an email from Marlund on how our donation will  be used:

Marklund makes everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities. The services Marklund provides exceed state requirements which are tied to reimbursement rates; for example, state regulations require each resident receive a bath once per week; whereas, Marklund believes in bathing each individual daily as well as washing their linens daily. This standard of care increases the cost of services and requires Marklund to fundraise to cover a gap of approximately $19,300 above state funding per individual served annually. (Marklund serves 117 residents.)

The $11,800 from Hops for Humanity was used to offset this gap in funding. It supports Marklund’s low staff ratios and high quality care for 222 days for one resident!

"We are so grateful for the support of such a compassionate group committed to supporting the community!"