Founder's Award: The Boston Beer Company

Over the past two years, The Boston Beer Company has shifted its philanthropic strategy from one of giving dollars and product to a variety of causes to one that channels the company's financial, human, corporate, and in-kind assets into a single issue. Moreover, this strategy is in support of a beneficiary truly aligned with the company's heritage, values, and culture.

In June 2008, Boston Beer engaged in a partnership with ACCION USA, America's leading nonprofit microlending organization, and created Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream® to provide small-business owners in the food and beverage industry with the tools and resources they need to become financially independent. Boston Beer provides entrepreneurs with business-acumen counseling and directs awareness-building activities pertaining to communications, marketing, and public relations. ACCION USA manages a loan fund, leads a financial literacy program, screens applicants, and counsels small-business owners through the loan process and beyond. ACCION USA and Boston Beer coordinate to recruit entrepreneurs to their programs and hold ancillary educational events. In the spirit of "leading by example," Boston Beer hosts Speed Coaching events, where small-business owners receive an evening of one-on-one coaching sessions with Mr. Koch himself, as well as with Boston Beer employees expert in branding, sales and distribution, finance, legal considerations, packaging, e-commerce, public relations, and marketing.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Boston Beer Company
• Philanthropy
• Accion
• Entrepreneurs

[bryonlape]

The brand is such a misnomer. Sam Adams wasn't a brewer and his malt house was a failure. On the bottle is Paul Revere as Sam is not very photogenic. It all works though. Cheers and keep on going Jim.