4th annual ‘Pints for North Light’ fundraiser is Thursday

This week, local residents and supporters of the North Light Community Center will raise a pint or two for the fourth annual “Pints for North Light” fundraiser. 

The event will be held on Thursday at the Manayunk Brewery from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Proceeds will enable the Manayunk community center to continue providing food for families in need, quality day care for children, and job training and academic support for teens. The organization has been serving the community for more than 75 years.

“It gives people a chance to get together and get them into the holiday spirit,” said Karen Smith, director of marketing and communications. “We deliberately have it the Thursday before Thanksgiving each year because people are already thinking about that.”

She said the event will feature beers from more than 10 breweries including Troegs, Victory, Great Lakes, Bearded Brew and Evil Genius. All of the seasonal brews from the Manayunk Brewing Company on tap will be available, along with spiced pumpkin and lime margarita wines from Tamanend Winery. 

In addition to the tastings, the event will feature a wide array of food such as wings from Baggataway Tavern, sweet treats from Beer Cakes Philly and pulled pork from Deke’s BBQ. 

There will also be a silent auction featuring beer gift baskets, tickets to a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game and an autographed Philadelphia Flyers Scott Hartnell sweatshirt.

Smith said the event raised more than $11,000 last year and hopes to raise about the same amount this year.

Jane Lipton, executive director of Manayunk Development Corporation, said the annual event has proven to not only be a successful fundraiser, but a great way to connect with longtime friends.

“The first thing that we realized is that it pulled together people that hadn’t seen each other for years and years and that was fantastic,” said Lipton. “Now four years in, some of the same people use it as an annual event where they know they are going to see people, who they are friends with, grew up with and did business with.”

Lipton was on the original committee for the event.

For general tasting, tickets cost $50 in advance and $60 at the door. VIP tickets cost $75 in advance and $80 at the door.

For more information, go to pintsfornorthlight.com or northlightcommunitycenter.org.