Novato-based Ales for Autism raises funds for education
Four years ago, when Greg Coll saw that the craft brew industry in Sonoma was growing, he saw an opportunity to do some good. So he started Ales for Autism (Ales4Autism.com), a one-man-band with a P.O. box and a storage unit that puts on events that raise money for autism.
Coll’s inspiration for the cause came from his niece and nephew, who both have autism. Craft beer themed events evolved from his working in the business for the past 10 years.
When he started putting on the events, Coll was working two part time jobs, 15 hours a day. Currently he is the general manager at Fogbelt Brewing Company in Santa Rosa.
“What’s that saying? If you want something done, give it to a busy person,” Coll said.
One of the first events turned into the annual Black and White Beer Ball which took place in February. Coll is moving the event to the fall, however, so as not to coincide with San Francisco’s Beer Week. Other events are the Paper Pint Program, Farm to Fermentation Festival, and the Indian Summer Beer Festival.
Coll calls the Sonoma County-based nonprofit a grass roots organization, and is proud of the fact that the funds raised stay in the community the event takes place in. He also receives a lot of support from the community, and help from a lot of volunteers.
Santa Rosa’s Anova Education, which provides services for children and families living with autism and learning differences, helps him coordinate the events. When he reaches out to the craft beer community, brewers - averaging 30 per event - donate their time, product and staff.
“The beer industry is one of the most philanthropic I’ve seen. They love to do it,” Coll said.
Coll also likes to create events that people will remember. Musicians and performance artists - like sword swallowers - volunteer their time and talent, as do artists who create beer art to sell. At an Art of Beer event four years ago, an expert from the Mind Institute at U.C. Davis was on hand to provide education. He also raises money at the events selling t-shirts and other merchandise, to spread the message.
“We try to bring out exciting things to make it an experience that will really stick in everyone’s mind,” Coll said.
According to the Autism Society, in the U.S., the condition affects 1 in 68 children, and more than 3.5 million Americans are living with the condition. The average cost to educate a student with Autism is estimated to be $8,600 extra per year. The Autism rate in California is higher than the average, with 0.8 percent, compared with Iowa at 0.1 percent. Oregon has one of the highest rates at 1.2 percent.
Coll recently scheduled back to back Ales for Autism events, one in Sacramento on a Friday, and the next day at the RateBeer Best Award Show in Santa Rosa. The Sacramento event raised $6,500 for the school district there. He also recently gave a check for $7,000 to Anova. All together Coll estimates he has donated about $35,000 for autism in the last four years.
Not bad for something he calls a “hobby.”
Ales4Autism gained a lot more exposure at the RateBeer event Coll said, reaching the hearts and minds of many other craft brewers, and he is looking at expanding the operation and adding staff in the near future.
“That’s a good problem to have,” he said.
