For almost 30 years, Indiana Beverage has partnered with its local Indiana retailers to raise money for charity. Indiana Beverage, Coors Light, and their retail partners have long been recognized as top fundraisers within the Coors Light network. Overcoming obstacles due to raising money during a pandemic, the Coors Light network surpassed expectations. In Northwest Indiana, $74,672.48 was raised for various causes, up 18% from last year! Indiana Beverage attributes the success to the passion of its sales teams and charitable local retailers.
Indiana Beverage is particularly proud of its efforts to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened in 1962. The hospital leads the world in understanding how to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Since 1992, Coors Light distributors have been raising money to find cures for childhood cancer. In the first year, they sold ‘Cool Ghoul’ Halloween pinups raising $174,000. Since then, Coors Light distributors have raised over $90 million for St Jude.
Dave Kralek, sales representative for Indiana Beverage, holds fundraising for St. Jude’s close to his heart.
“Well, I have kids,” said Kralek. “St. Jude creates less stress for families through their charity. I know if I was in that position as a parent, I would want that.”
Indiana Beverage recognizes how important it is to uplift an organization that helps families dealing with childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Being able to help an organization remove barriers for parents and families is a motivating cause for Kralek and his clients.
“Unfortunately, everybody in this day and age has been touched by cancer in one way or another,” said Kralek. “When it comes to kids, the cause is definitely heartfelt.”
Kralek finds that people are often willing to give to such charitable organizations, and he and his customers understand the great impact that St. Jude has on families coping with childhood cancer.
“St. Jude is great because it does not make anybody pay a dime. Even the parents that are staying there. And if the parents are worried about paying their bills at home, they help pay that as well so that they don't have anything to stress about but getting their child well,” said Kralek. “So that's why this fundraiser means a lot to me and everybody at Indiana Beverage. St. Jude is a great organization, and 100% of the funds from our fundraiser go to them.”
As a sales representative, Kralek visits many of Indiana Beverage’s partnering retailers throughout the Region and coordinates fundraising opportunities throughout the year. Kralek’s routes include grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, bowling alleys, golf courses, convenience stores, and more. Around the Region, Kralek is able to connect with many business owners and retailers to get them involved in such important charity work. To be able to do such important work, Kralek has to build relationships within the community.
“I try to stay close-knit to where I work. I live in the area of my route so I have a close relationship with all the customers,” said Kralek. “They know that everything we do is heartfelt and we like to give back.”
Working so closely with his retailers, Kralek builds their trust and shows them that Indiana Beverage is a worthwhile company to partner with for charity work.
“We see these people multiple times a week, so we get to build a relationship with them,” said Kralek. “They know what we say is true. We're not the type of company where we ask for fundraising donations every month. This is a one-time-a-year event that we blow up big.”
Because the fundraiser is done annually, Indiana Beverage and its partnering customers give it their all every October. The company works to get customers to buy into the fundraiser and reach out to their workers that are on the front line. This approach allows Indiana Beverage to fundraise with a team that grows incrementally and reaches as many people as possible.
“Where we get the most pool is when we ask the person at the counter - the bartender or the store clerk - to get involved,” said Kralek. “All it takes is one or two people to really get behind this. Then, it really jumpstarts everybody else on board with it if we can just spread the word out about this.”
Kralek believes that building a network of participants impacts the fundraiser greatly. All it takes is making one connection that could spark greater participation with the fundraiser.
So, if there is a wall of pumpkins at the local grocery store or bar, consider donating a dollar to raise money for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital this October. Be part of the chain reaction that helps Indiana Beverage raise thousands of dollars to benefit families coping with childhood cancer.
Visit https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/partner-with-st-jude/corporate-partners/millercoors.html to make a donation for St. Jude’s with Indiana Beverage.
To learn more about Indiana Beverage, visit https://www.indianabev.com/.
