This post is part of a series profiling the 2014 #SoGood Award winners announced at June’s State of Innovation Forum. These worthy winners are companies and individuals who are heavily contributing to social good in Boston and beyond. Read their stories to discover how you can give back this summer.
We rarely hear anything but doom and gloom when it comes to the economy. The recession forced many aspiring entrepreneurs to put their dreams on the back burner, and small business success stories are few and far between.
The once vibrant American Dream seems to be fading, but one local company is setting out to change that. And it may surprise you to discover it’s the very same folks who brew Boston’s favorite beer.
It turns out Samuel Adams, the local brewer often credited with sparking a craft beer revolution, does more than produce perfect pints. The world-famous beer brand has a long tradition of giving back, most notably through their philanthropic program “Brewing the American Dream.”
Inspired by founder Jim Koch’s own struggle to start a business, “Brewing the American Dream” strives to support small local food, beverage, craft brewing, and hospitality businesses by providing access to startup capital and expert business advice. Koch and the entire Samuel Adams company want to see passionate people succeed, not be stifled by the crushing economy or lack of experience. By providing microloans and mentoring opportunities like Speed Coaching workshops, Sam Adams has helped 285 entrepreneurs realize their dreams to start a small food and beverage business, enabling them to create more than 1,800 jobs.
Beyond this impressive accomplishment, Samuel Adams employees have coached over 4,000 small business owners at their speed coaching events. It might seem like quite an endeavor to devote so much time, energy, and resources to helping others; but for the folks at Samuel Adams, it’s a no-brainer,
“For us, craft beer has always meant a sense of community and helping one another...so integrating social good into the Samuel Adams culture comes naturally,” Samuel Adams said.
But just become it comes naturally doesn’t make it any less admirable. The incredible nationwide impact of “Brewing the American Dream,” not to mention a long tradition of supporting charities, makes Samuel Adams more than deserving of the Corporate Initiative Social Good Award.
Get a glimpse into what it takes to “Brew the American Dream” and the one-of-a-kind company culture over at Samuel Adams Brewery.
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