Brewing a passion for literacy

Books and brews — an unlikely combo, but a fan-favorite in Colorado. Walk a mile in any direction in Denver and you’ll eventually find a craft brewery. If you’re lucky, you’ll even find them hosting an event for a local nonprofit.

Through fundraisers and other events, local breweries are showing their dedication to closing the achievement gap in Colorado. From hosting group-training sessions for volunteers, to fundraisers and cultivation events, Coloradans do it all with a freshly poured, local, craft beer in hand.

Just like skiing in the Rockies, the Broncos, and John Denver, craft breweries have become a staple of Colorado culture. There are currently 235 craft breweries throughout Colorado, placing the state third in the nation for total number of breweries. And in the spirit of giving, Colorado breweries have donated approximately 1.2 million dollars to nonprofits. These brewers care about creating a positive and friendly environment inside their breweries and in the community by making a positive impact.

The Jagged Gives program, from Jagged Mountain Brewery, is a fantastic example of that spirit.  A couple times a month, Jagged Mountain partners with a local nonprofit to donate $1 for every beer sold in a single day. RJ Banat, owner of Jagged Mountain, said,

We feel it is important to be an active part of the Denver and Colorado communities … developing relationships and figuring out strategies to not just make great beer, but to also give back.

Reading Partners Colorado hosted a successful Jagged Gives Day in August. Events like these offer opportunities to fundraise and friendraise all with a brew in hand!

Local breweries also provide a casual and fun gathering place for Reading Partners tutors, staff, board members, school partners, and supporters alike. At any given event, you will hear tutors discussing “site words” and “saisons” with equal exuberance, bonding over a beer and their love for reading and tutoring.

So let’s raise a toast to literacy and to Diebolt Brewing Company, Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery, River North Brewery, Great Divide Brewing Company, and Baere Brewing for helping Reading Partners students become lifelong readers, and for crafting a passion for literacy in the community. Cheers!