Watch: Fresno’s Tioga-Sequoia Brewing pledges 1% of profits for five years to California fire effort

The Central Sierra Resiliency Council or Resiliency Fund is a community initiative fronted by the Central Sierra Historical Society and Museum Inc. The council is a steward for financial resources to reforest, rebuild and boost community revitalization efforts in the wake of California’s devastating Creek Fire that became a blaze on September 4, 2020. The fire is now the largest single fire in California’s recorded history, and as of yesterday, it was only 78 percent contained.

To help strengthen the Resiliency Fund and the Fresno community, local craft brewery Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. has championed the Resiliency Fund’s selection as a nonprofit partner in the 1% for the Planet network, which helps members assist nonprofit orgs that protect land, forests, rivers, and oceans while fostering alt-energy initiatives. The 1% for the Planet network has contributed more than $265 million to partner nonprofits since 2002. You should probably get involved right here.

Tioga-Sequoia Brewing pledged to direct 1% of its annual sales membership to benefit the Resiliency Fund for the next five years, which is anticipated to be more than $20,000 in its first year, plus outreach and volunteerism efforts. The Resiliency Fund will support Creek Fire recovery efforts in communities within the vicinity of Fresno County’s Central Sierra region including, but not limited to, Huntington Lake, Lakeshore, Big Creek, Shaver Lake, Pine Ridge, Meadow Lakes, Alder Springs and Auberry.

To the press release!

“Our brewery was founded on our passion for the craft that goes beyond beer to connect our community with our surroundings,” said Michael Cruz, President, Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company. “After witnessing the devastation of the Creek Fire in our own backyard forest, we were compelled to help in the short term with humanitarian relief and in the long-term to assist restoring the communities and wilderness damaged by the Creek Fire. We are excited to partner with the amazing group of volunteers behind the Resiliency Fund and begin to put our ‘1% for the Planet’ commitment to work while creating more opportunities for the future.”

Right now, according to the press release, the Resiliency Fund team is focused on community education for those affected by the Creek Fire through in-person workshops, getting people connected with the right programs to begin to move forward. The team has also launched volunteer training efforts for soil stabilization and plan to assist with community risk mitigation efforts on priority lands altered by the Creek Fire to protect drainages, roadways and communities. Hats off and beers up to the council and Tioga-Sequoia Brewing.

“We are grateful to forge a partnership with Tioga-Sequoia’s passion to help with our long-term recovery efforts,” said John Mount, Central Sierra Historical Society and Museum, Inc. Board of Director, Resiliency Fund Council member and Registered Professional Forester. “The inclusion of the Resiliency Fund in the ‘1% for the Planet’ network will empower our local forest and community to heal from the devastation left by the Creek Fire and begin to provide the long-term financial resources that will be needed to rebuild, restore and regenerate to ensure a thriving community living within healthy forests for generations to come.”