La Casa’s ‘Burgers and Brew Week 2020’ Raises Funds for COVID-19 Relief and Awareness for Local Businesses

As summer turned to fall, La Casa de Don Pedro set out to encourage New Jerseyans to support local and black-owned restaurants, breweries, and wineries while raising funds for its COVID-19 relief efforts through Burgers and Brew Week, an interactive alternative to their annual fan-favorite Burgers and Brew event.

The week-long interactive celebration, which ran from September 21st through 27th, included a host of participating establishments throughout New Jersey, exclusive cooking videos with celebrity Chef Jesse Jones and local personalities, behind-the-scenes footage from Montclair Brewery and The Fox & Falcon, as well as a social media challenge where participants could win gift cards and other prizes for posting photos of their burgers and beers.

In total, there were 21 participating restaurants, breweries, and wineries located throughout Northern and Central New Jersey, all of which are small businesses and 11 are black-owned. Nine of the businesses either contributed a portion of their sales during the week to La Casa or donated merchandise which the organization gave away as part of the social media challenge.

The Burgers and Brew Week message was simple: buy local and buy black given the difficulties these establishments currently face in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With help from celebrity Chef Jesse Jones and Gayle Griffin, PhD, the week began with a virtual kick off sponsored by RWJBarnabas Clara Maass Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Newark Beth Israel Medical Center which aired on Facebook Live. Chef Jesse showed viewers how to make his signature burger while Dr. Griffin, a La Casa board member, spoke of the many benefits and services La Casa provides to approximately 50,000 people annually. The rest of the week was filled with a series of video cooking tutorials and promotions which highlighted the food and drink establishments as well as the sponsors of the event. All videos were recorded, edited, and produced in house by La Casa’s Communications & Development Specialist Elgin Cintron and Director of Program & Fund Development Carrie Puglisi.

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Enjoy a burger or beverage from these participating local & black-owned Businesses.

(B) = Black-Owned Business (D) = Donating to La Casa’s COVID-19 Food Relief

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THANK YOU TO BURGERS AND BREW WEEK’S
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

Premier Gold Sponsors

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Bronze Sponsor

Friend Sponsors

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Kick Off Presenting Sponsor

Fall Equinox Supporters

Leila Ross Wealth Management
Rutgers University – Newark
Shoprite of Newark

Sunset Supporters

Capacity Benefits and Financial Services Group, LLC
Dawn Gammon
Greater Newark LISC
JW Pierson

Dusk Supporters

The Basile Family
Bayshore Recycling
Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Summit
Julio Colon
Dr. Gayle Griffin
GUbarry, Inc.
On-Site Technology

Food & Drink Sponsors

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Food & Drink Partners

Cafe Moso
Four City Brewing Company
Light Rail Cafe
Lovelee Wine
South and Pine American Eatery

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