24th annual Beer in the Plaza this Saturday

An afternoon of beer drinking in the Plaza may not normally be
the best way to show civic responsibility. On Saturday, Soroptimist
International of Healdsburg is making sipping suds a great way to
give back to the community.
The local Soroptimist chapter—a service organization dedicated
to helping women and children—is holding its biggest fundraiser of
the year at 3-7 p.m. on Sept. 11 to benefit a long list of causes
from the county’s battered women’s safe house to scholarships for
women in need. The 24th annual Beer in the Plaza features tastings
from more than 30 breweries, live music by The Remedies, a silent
auction and a raffle.
Admission to the event is $20 and includes three tasting
tickets. Additional tastes cost $1 each. Tickets for children and
young adults, ages 8 to 20, are $10. Children 7 and younger are
free.
The event last year brought in about $30,000—$20,000 after
costs—and up about half of the club’s $40,000-$45,000 annual
budget. All of the breweries donate beer and the Beer Republic
hosts and donates a special dinner for the brewers who
participate.
“It’s our biggest moneymaker for the year,” said Soroptimist
Janice Torres. “It supports all of our programs.”
Soroptimist of Healdsburg is a big supporter of the YWCA’s
women’s safe house—a secret and secure home that takes in women
victimized in domestic violence. Soroptimist has adopted the home’s
living room, donating items to make it more comfortable and
maintaining it throughout the year. The club also adopts children
staying at the safe house for the holiday season, buying the kids
gifts for Christmas.
Soroptimists work with the safe house is a “perfect match,” said
YWCA of Sonoma County Executive Director/CEO Denise Frey. “The YWCA
relies on support from Soroptimist in order to maintain the level
of services needed for those most at risk,” she said.
The club’s other programs and donations also support women and
children. They pay for car seats given to parents who attend
parenting classes at Alliance Medical Center. They purchase special
forms and bras for breast cancer patients throughout Sonoma County.
They sent money to sister clubs located in far-away countries,
including Ecuador where they help pay for classes that teach women
how to start a business.
They buy cakes for the senior appreciate dinner at the
Healdsburg Senior Center and buy lunch for children who make big
improvements in school. They give annual awards to women in the
community who show need or who do great service.
“We’re also starting a new one,” said Torres. “We’re thinking of
calling it the Shannon Boaz active girls award. It’s going to be a
program for young girls who want to participate in athletic
activities or perhaps even dance, and their families can’t afford
to pay the fees.”
Soroptimist pays for these programs through fundraising, like
the beer festival. The event began small nearly a quarter century
ago and has grown to one of the community’s biggest events. “Back
24 years ago, they made $800 and were happy,” said Soroptimist Jean
Hammond. “We have generally 1,300 attend now and make about
$20,000.”
This year’s event will include live music from The Remedies, a
local band that plays classic rock. “This is the kind of band that
everyone wants to jump out of their seats and dance and sing to,”
said Soroptimist Joana Donati. “They’re fabulous.”
While Soroptimist is busy raising money, the Healdsburg Police
Department said the breweries and staff have done a good job in
recent years controlling the crowd and curtailing alcohol related
problems. Lt. Kevin Young said some of that success comes from a
short event with an early ending time. “The longer you allow people
to drink, the more problems you tend to have,” he said.
“We have very responsible party hosts,” he said. “We’ve actually
reduced staffing requirements for the event.”
For more information on Beer on the Plaza go online to www.sihealdsburg.org or call
975-7011.