The St. Johns Riverkeeper is celebrating the organization’s 25th anniversary in a unique way with a two-month campaign, 25 Taps for the St. Johns.
The initiative includes the nonprofit raising a glass to its anniversary by partnering with local breweries to help raise awareness of the organization as a trusted voice in the protection and health of the St. Johns River.
However, awareness is being spread both ways, as not only does it promote the St. Johns Riverkeeper’s mission, but it also creates business for local breweries.
According to Dryden Mills, community engagement specialist for St. Johns Riverkeeper, the partnership is a perfect fit.
“We launched 25 taps in celebration of our anniversary, but this is also an initiative to highlight the numerous outstanding breweries that exist in the watershed of the St. Johns River and the importance of clean water,” said Dryden Mills,. “After all, you can’t have good beer or a healthy river without clean water.”
Twenty-five Taps for the St. Johns is a virtual passport challenge, with more than 25 local breweries and businesses participating, which people can visit through July 31 and check-in by using the QR code at each site.
Many of the breweries are adding their creative spin to the campaign by designating certain brews to help raise funds to support and advocate for the St. Johns River.
“We are excited to be a part of 25 Taps for the St. Johns, and to continue to support a local organization and river that we love through sharing what we love - great beer,” said Lindsay Hawkins, general manager at Intuition Ale Works. “We’ll be hosting the celebration after the campaign on August 3 and can’t wait to bring everyone together for a clean and healthy St. Johns River.”
Anyone can sign up for a free digital passport and a list of breweries taking part can be found by going to www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org and going to the events tab.
Just as the St. Johns River weaves throughout the Northeast Florida region, breweries across several counties have partnered to join the cause.
The more brewery check-ins participants accumulate, the more points and prizes they can earn, and at the end of the campaign, passport participants will also be entered into a drawing to win a guided eco-tour or fishing charter on the St. Johns River.
“For 25 years, St. Johns Riverkeeper has served as a voice and advocate for our river and the communities that benefit from this important waterway,” St. Johns Riverkeeper executive director Jimmy Orth said. “So many local businesses and breweries that love our river have supported us along the way. We can’t wait to raise a glass together for the river, and cheers to 25 years.”
