Stone Brewing CEO keeps promise, special brew for local band program

Greg Koch is a native of Pataskala, a graduate of Watkins Memorial High School, a former member of the marching band and the founder of Stone Brewing Company. And, it turns out, he’s also a man of his word.

Watkins Memorial student Ally Jeffers wrote to Koch earlier this year asking for help. In her two-page letter, she told Koch about how she had been bullied as a child and felt like an outcast. And she talked about how being a member of the marching band helped to turn things around for her….how she found friendships and a sense of belonging in the music program. She also talked about elections and watching countless school levies get rejected by voters and the peril experienced by programs like the marching band. Ally asked Koch if there was anything that he could do.

Koch replied to Ally’s letter with a $1,000 donation to those jeopardized music programs. He also told Ally about his own experiences as a student and how important things like marching band were to him. And he gave her a promise. He pledged to brew a special beer and distribute it to local bars and restaurants with 100% of the proceeds going towards the arts and music curriculum at Watkins Memorial…if the levy in front of voters at the time passed. (It did.)

Koch will return to Pataskala this month to tap Stone Brewing’s special Stone Pataskala Red IPA. Tapping events will be held at the following locations:

Sept. 16th (7pm) – Ziggy’s, 510 E. Broad St., Pataskala
Sept. 17th (2pm) – Brews Cafe, 116 E. Broadway, Granville
Sept. 17th (5pm) – Grain and Grape, 2780 E. Main St., Columbus

Proceeds from beer sales will go to the Watkins band, theatre and arts programs. (jj)

(photo credit: Stone Brewing)

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