From Oskar Blues:
The CAN'd Aid Foundation, known for "doing good 'cause we CAN" is proud to announce its 2016 do-goodery impacts. CAN'd Aid, a nonprofit formed by Dale Katechis, the soul founder of Oskar Blues Brewery, is working hard to make a difference in communities throughout the US. In 2016, the organization donated a total of $340,000 dollars, built & donated more than 500 bikes to underprivileged children, put 100 instruments in budding musician's hands and logged more than 2,500 volunteer hours.
Katechis founded CAN'd Aid in 2013 following the Colorado flooding that devastated Oskar Blues Brewery's hometown in Lyons, Colorado. To date, over $2.3 million has been raised to support its efforts in four key areas: Towns, Tunes, Treads + Trails, and Love Yur Mama.
In 2016, CAN'd Aid's do-goodery efforts have included:
TOWNS - building strong communities:
- 330,000 cans of water donated to those in need. CAN'd Aid teamed up with Oskar Blues Brewery and Ball Corporation to can and distribute water to communities in need: the Flint Water Crisis, unfit drinking water in Alabama, flooding in Louisiana and Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina
- Donated $60,000 and contributed over 450 volunteer hours to rebuild flood and hurricane damaged regions in North Carolina and Louisiana (click here for photos)
TUNES - for your eyeholes and earholes:
- Donated 100 instruments to low-income children in communities in need across the U.S.
- Held six music workshops to teach kids how to jam to blues, rock, funk, bluegrass and more with the help of TUNES Ambassadors who helped raise funds, host music workshops and donate instruments (click here for photos)
- Hosted six "Crush It" sessions that feature one-of-a-kind intimate performances with musicians such as Steep Canyon Rangers and Anders Osborne to raise funds for CAN'd Aid's do-goodery efforts
- Launched Send Me a Friend, a sober support network for music industry professionals in partnership with Anders Osborne
TREADS + TRAILS - get outside and get after it:
- Built and donated 531 bikes for low-income children in communities around the US. CAN'd Aid engages local communities and brands to build bikes from the ground up to give kids the opportunity to get out and ride (click here for photos or watch this video)
- Participated in 45 partnerships that encourage people to get off the couch and explore the outdoors. Partners include the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which launched an inaugural six-week Leadership Corps for youth conservationists, the Colorado Mountain Club which brings a Bouldering Bus that teaches students about the science and mechanics behind climbing, and Sk8-Strong that provides skateboarding education for youth
- Rebuilt four trails in partnership with Friends of DuPont Forest and Appalachian Trail Conservancy
LOVE YUR MAMA - save the blue marble:
- Recycled 150,000 lbs. of waste and formed eight new #CrushItCrusade partnerships which partners with communities to help them get a recycling program off the ground and spread the love of recycling
- Hosted a river cleanup, purchased a #LoveYurMama river raft for conservation efforts and is working in partnership with the Colorado Water Trust to ensure rivers remain healthy and have sustainable flows year-round
"2016 has been an incredible year for CAN'd Aid," said Executive Director Diana Ralston. "Whether it was seeing a child's face light up at the site of their brand-new bike or watching one of our TUNES ambassadors light a spark with the next generation of musicians, we've loved watching the do-goodery grow."
Help spread the Fa La La this holiday season! Support CAN'd Aid's do-goodery efforts by donating today - 100% of all donations will be TRIPLE matched by Oskar Blues Brewery & Dale Katechis until 12/31/16. If you're interested in learning more and donating, visit http://candaid.org.
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