Non-alc brewer and certified B Corp, Athletic Brewing Company, has named the four Australian organisations that will benefit from its ‘Two For The Trails’ environmental grant program.
The four groups due to receive funding are: Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management in Victoria, South Australia’s Nature Foundation, Munda Biddi Trail Foundation (MBTF) in Western Australia and Enkindle Village School in Queensland.
Athletic Brewing’s B Corp Manager, Cara Wilson, expressed her pride in the funding initiatives.
“This year, the donation to these amazing entities focused on public land protection is even more important and impactful, as we see a serious lack of focus and work being done around environmental matters and issues at a national level,” Wilson said.
“The calibre of grantee applicants was absolutely exceptional this year and this encourages us that we’re doing the right thing by supporting various entities in making national, and global, scale change for the environment,” Wilson continued.
“Athletic Brewing is committed to the concept that together we can make a difference, and we hope to continue to lead the charge in protecting the places we recreate for generations to come.”
Nature Foundation is responsible for the conservation and protection of the 77,000 hectare Hiltaba Nature Reserve in at the western extreme of SA’s Gawler Ranges.
A spokesperson for the group outlined how the funds will help maintain the area’s hiking trails, saying: “Nature Foundation is very grateful that the Hiltaba Nature Reserve Walking Trails Upgrade has been selected as a recipient of Two for the Trails grant program. This funding will significantly help upgrade five breathtaking walking trails and provide five new interpretive signs to enhance visitor experience.”
Similarly, the MBTF cares for the Munda Biddi Trail, Australia’s longest ‘purpose-built off-road mountain bike trail’, which requires constant maintenance and preservation.
Oliver Laing, MBTF Executive Officer, said the funding will help to sustain the trial for future riders.
“Investment in this project will allow the iconic Munda Biddi to address a range of infrastructure shortfalls… I hope that we can build on this success with Athletic Brewing’s support.”
The Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management oversees the grading and resurfacing of the Henderson Track in Victoria, which covers a distance of 2.5km through coastal bushland. This track not only helps to conserve and protect native flora and fauna, but is crucial in ‘creating an understanding and appreciation of the significance of Indigenous cultural heritage and biodiversity in the local area,’ according to Athletic Brewing’s statement.
Regarding the Enkindle Village School, an Athletic Brewing representative told The Shout that “a majority of the funds will go into the education and implementation of sustainability practices – a great insight for young minds.”
Worldwide, the brewery will donate over a million US dollars to 106 grant winners. This is in addition to the one percent of all sales that Athletic donates to supporting ‘opportunity and positive impacts’ in communities Australia-wide.