MANY CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY SUFFERED IMMENSE ECONOMIC LOSSES DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND BALTIMORE IS NO EXCEPTION. BUT HERE IN CHARM CITY, LIGHT IS BEGINNING TO BREAK THROUGH THE DARKNESS. RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES HAVE COME TOGETHER TO HELP AREA NONPROFITS AND OUR HARDEST-HIT COMMUNITIES THROUGH THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES— EVEN AS SOME FACE CHALLENGES TO STAY AFLOAT THEMSELVES. LEARN WHAT THEY’ RE DOING TO SERVE, AND HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE MISSION.
The Guinness Open Gate Brewery offers one-of-a-kind experimental brews, a massive beer garden and on-site food options.
GUINNESS GIVES BACK
Last year saw the nation shut down over the COVID-19 crisis, while America also grappled with the pain of racism and the need to address pressing social justice issues.
As headlines continued to bring to light injustice at the legislative, legal and even corporate levels, businesses across the country promised to support the Black Lives Matter movement, analyze their own diversity and equity policies, and take more meaningful steps to help communities of color.
The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore took that promise to heart. In June 2020, the hometown brewery, which“ shares the spirit of exploration and discovery of its sister brewery in Dublin,” announced it would roll out the Guinness Gives Back Baltimore Community Fund. And in December, it announced the full details of that fund— a $ 1 million commitment to support three key focus areas for the Baltimore region’ s Black community: economic justice, community empowerment and equal representation.
“ Guinness has always been‘ made of more’ and, as the home of Guinness in America, genuine give-back efforts are in our DNA. The Baltimore region has warmly welcomed our team since opening the Guinness Gates just two years ago and we’ re honored to support such worthy causes in the fight for equity,” noted Jennifer Hudson, a director at Diageo Beer Company, of which the Guinness brand is a part.
In fact, the company’ s hefty contributions are spread across multiple beneficiaries and will support the Visit Baltimore Education and Training Foundation( funding an apprenticeship program), Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Job Opportunities Task Force( a nonprofit that works to eliminate educational and employment barriers for low-wage workers), the Baltimore Action Legal Team( which provides legal support to Baltimore communities) and the Maryland Food Bank.
“ Simply put, the work of the Maryland Food Bank— including our response to COVID-19— would be sidelined without the support of businesses like Guinness,” noted Carmen Del Guercio, the Maryland Food Bank’ s president and CEO, in a statement to Visit Baltimore.“ Our programs, campaigns and educational outreach have always relied on the philanthropic support of charitable corporations, individuals and foundations, but our neighbors at Guinness have gone above and beyond in supporting MFB since last March.”
With the food bank previously a community partner of the brand, Del Guercio also
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