Gurnee serves craft beer fest proceeds
Craft beer has become a financial resource allowing continued operation of Gurnee's American Legion post.
Sponsored by Gurnee village government, the second Legions of Craft Beer Festival fundraiser was held in September. Most of the bash's proceeds are meant to help Gurnee American Legion Post 771.
At a village board meeting Monday night, Mayor Kristina Kovarik presented an oversized $20,000 check to Post 771's strategic planning chairman, James Huisel. A $5,800 contribution went to Lake County Honor Flight, which was accepted by president and program director Paula Carballido.
Last year, $17,500 went to the post and $5,800 to Lake County Honor Flight after the inaugural craft beer fest. Both festivals were under a tent outside Gurnee Mills.
Huisel said youth academic programs, scholarships for high school students and the Gurnee American Legion baseball team for teenagers will be among the beneficiaries of the festival proceeds.
"But there's also a lot we need to do in the community," Huisel said. "And there's also a lot to do for the veterans in the area. I was just leaving today driving and shopping on Hunt Club Road (on Gurnee's west side), by the Jewel over there, and there was a veteran standing there, a homeless veteran. It would be nice to have that kind of money to help out people like that."
Legions of Craft Beer was spawned from a request by Huisel that the village board rejected in 2014. Citing the post's sagging bank account, he attempted to persuade Gurnee to follow other towns that cited a desire to help bars, restaurants, fraternal organizations and other businesses by allowing video gambling,
However, the Gurnee village board said such a move would not be in line with a family atmosphere cultivated at attractions such as Six Flags Great America and KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort. The elected officials backed creation of the craft beer festival benefit as a way to help the 81-year-old American Legion post.
Huisel said the post needed a new income source to cover escalating real estate taxes, building maintenance and charitable efforts. He said Monday night the Legions of Craft Beer Festival has boosted post finances.
Lake County Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization flies veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. Carballido told village officials the $5,800 from the craft beer festival will pay for more flights.
"We'd like to thank everyone who supported the Legions of Craft Beer fest this year," she said. "
Well-known 3 Floyds Brewing Co. of Munster, Indiana, and Gurnee's Only Child Brewing were among the 53 craft breweries, bands and food trucks at the festival.