by Roman Yavich, Co-founder
Last weekend was awesome! Some of my best friends from college (University of Colorado) helped Comunidad Connect raise over $5,000 through an annual fundraiser called Pro-Am Craft Beer Fundraiser held in Boulder, CO by his company Coalesce Design and Fabrication. Both co-owners of Coalesce BJ Titchenal and Greg Vanderbeek have been to Nicaragua to volunteer, making their support even more special.
Attendees and supporters Christine Schulz Hood and Stephanie Drennen enjoy veggie tacos from McDevitt Taco Supply.
The fundraiser drew more than 100 craft beer enthusiasts eager to try the new and classic flavors from some of Colorado’s best breweries: Avery, Boulder Beer, and Sanitas. The breweries graciously donated their delicious beers. McDevitt Taco Supply came through with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of donated vegetarian tacos to compliment a trailer-load (literally) of meat smoked to perfection in a smoker designed and built by Coalesce, which also donated the meat. (A smoker is not the only thing these guys can build. Check out their website for floating staircases.)
BJ Titchenal, co-owner of Coalesce Design and Fabrication, in Boulder, CO shows off his meat and his smoker mounted on a rugged trailer.
Modern Whiskey Market, a local bluegrass band, kept the crowd going the whole afternoon. I even got the chance to say a few words from the stage (also mounted on a trailer) about what makes the work of Comunidad Connect in Nicaragua so important: the foundation for economic development is good health and strong connections. I’m proud to say that the connection between Comunidad Connect and Coalesce is now forged of steel. I’m looking forward to next year’s Craft Beer Fundraiser and hope some of you reading this will join.
Volunteers April Pojman and David Mann check in one of the youngest attendees.
Check out some of the best photos below. Gracias! to Laura Barkley Fine Art for the photography and two donated prints for the drawing!