Lowcountry AIDS Services has partnered with Gusto Group to produce Charleston’s largest pop-up beer garden. Beginning in 2016, the annual Charleston Beer Gardenfestival will be a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting Lowcountry AIDS Services in its work helping men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in the greater Charleston area. 

The fifth annual Charleston Beer Garden is set to return to The Grove at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant on Saturday, May 14, 2016. It features craft brews from local and regional breweries, live music, homebrewers, games, vendors and more.

In 2015, Lowcountry AIDS Services was a charity partner benefiting from Spring Jam, Charleston Beer Garden and the Lowcountry Hoedown, all of which are produced by Gusto Group. Building on that mutually successful relationship, the two organizations decided to transition Charleston Beer Garden to a fundraiser under the leadership of Lowcountry AIDS Services, its staff and partner company The Event Cooperative. 

“As a nonprofit organization, we are continually looking for effective events that will raise both money and awareness for our agency. The Charleston community has so many amazing fundraisers already that we felt it made sense to partner with an existing event rather than create a new one from scratch,” explained Bradley Childs, executive director of Lowcountry AIDS Services. “The Charleston Beer Garden has a reputation as a well-run and profitable event and we couldn’t be more excited to benefit from it in 2016 and in years to come.” 

Lowcountry AIDS Services provides clients with access to medical care, financial assistance, legal assistance and a host of other support services. The agency also provides free HIV testing as well as prevention and education services. 

Hilary Johnson, chief experience orchestrator of Gusto Group, said joining forces with Lowcountry AIDS Services is like coming full circle in her event planning career. She recalls the first event she ever planned was a Dining with Friends AIDS benefit while a high school student. 

“It’s been such a pleasure working with Lowcountry AIDS Services over the past year and learning more about their incredible work in our community,” Johnson said. “By putting Charleston Beer Garden in the hands of a nonprofit, we’ll be able to achieve such a greater good for Lowcountry AIDS Services and the Lowcountry as a whole.” 

Companies interested in participating in the fifth annual Charleston Beer Garden as a sponsor or vendor should contact Jason Kirk, director of development at Lowcountry AIDS Services, at 843-747-2273 or jkirk@aids-services.com.

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