As a result of the very successful 2015 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Craft Beer and Cider Festival, the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Society is thrilled to donate $35,000 back to the community.
At a presentation, held at and hosted by the group at The Shatford Centre for Arts on Oct. 8 the Society’s Board of Directors were pleased to distribute funds for project specificnitiatives to 12 well-deserving, local charitable organizations.
Highlighting the event was a $10,000 gift to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation, the first contribution towards a pledge made by the Society of $50,000 over five years in support of the Foundations campaign to raise $20-million for medical equipment for the $325-million Patient Care Tower at Penticton Regional Hospital.
As of this year, $537,660 in net proceeds have been “gifted back” to the community by the Okanagan Festof-Ale Society.
“The Fest-of-Ale Society has donated more than $75,000 towards critical medical equipment for Penticton Regional Hospital. With this new gift today for the Patient Care Tower, their commitment will help generations of families over the years. We hope everyone in region knows what this organization does for business, the community and for the hospital we all use. Many thanks to the staff, board of directors, volunteers and participants of Fest-of-Ale,” said Janice Perrino, executive director for the South Okanagan Similkameen Foundation.
The Okanagan Fest-of-Ale is a two-day consumer beer and cider tasting event held at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in early April each year. This last year marked the 20th annual celebration.
“The 20th Annual event was a tremendous success. We made a lot of changes, to celebrate the anniversary of the festival - A fresh new logo, the addition of an outdoor venue and a record number of craft breweries kept new and returning attendees smiling throughout the two day festival," said society president, Randy Kirkoski.
The event is managed by a volunteer board of directors and staffed primarily by community minded volunteers — a set-up that organizers said makes “giving back” so generously possible. “Our heartfelt thanks goes out to nearly 300 volunteers and sponsors who contributed to the success of the 2015 event,” said Kirkoski. “Be sure to mark your calendar for April 8 and 9,, 2016 for the 21st annual event.”
The 2014-2015 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Charity Recipients include: Agur Lake Camp Society, Community Foundation Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Legacy Fund, Desert Valley Hospice Society, Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, Okanagan College Foundation, Okanagan Similkameen Neurological Society, Penticton and District Community Resources Society, Penticton Seniors' Drop-In Centre Society, School District 67, South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation, South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society and the Okanagan School of the Arts (Shatford Centre).