Brewhouse Xtras

With less than two weeks left until Christmas, we are all scrambling around searching for the perfect gifts for our loved ones, planning holiday dinners and fun events to do with our family and friends. However, what if your holiday plans were setting up a Christmas tree inside your child's hospital room and just praying that one day they would be able to have a traditional Christmas?

At Scotty's Brewhouse, we pray for this too. We may not be able to provide them with the cure they need, however, we hope they wake up with that sparkle in their eye, knowing that Santa made a special trip just for them. From mid November until December 9, 2011 all Scotty's restaurants, including Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co, Scotty's Lakehouse, Scotty's Burger Joint and Scotty's Brewhouse locations collected new, unwrapped toys for the children staying at Riley Hospital for Children. Our goal is to reassure these children that there is hope and to keep on fighting.

"We started making our trip to Riley about 5 years ago. I wanted to actually deliver toys to children that could use a smile or hug or Buzz Lightyear to cheer up a pretty awful time to be laid up in a hospital bed for a child," said Scott Wise, a Pots & Pans Production CEO.

We want to thank every single customer for their donation to these amazing children. Come Christmas morning, when you are opening gifts with your family, just know that at that same time a child is smiling because of the gift that you gave. "Our guests are the ones that deserve a lot of credit, as they are the ones that donate all the toys the month leading up to us delivering.  I wish I could share the smiles from the children AND the parents, grandparents and others in the room with all our guests that donate.  If you would have heard the 3 year old girls yell, 'Baaaaaaaarbie' yesterday, you too would have had a tear run down your cheek and you'd understand why I now do this twice a year (we also collect toys for a Christmas in July promotion, so we can deliver again and help more children smile)," said Wise.

This year's collection was one of the biggest. "Many of our collected toys (probably over 50 toys) get to be stored in a 'special closet' at Riley so that the smiles can continue months after we leave.  Nurses don't have to enter rooms with just IV's and needles; but, can soften their entrance with a Star Wars toy, Dora The Explorer or other toy that makes their stay a little more bearable," said Wise. 

We also had our own Brewhouse baby admitted to Riley recently which made this year really hit home with the team. "One of our own management team members had a daughter get admitted just weeks ago with 5 tumors on her brain.  Like most things in our lives that we take for granted, this really hits home when one of your own goes through an experience like this.  Thanks to Crystal Ward, Director of Employee & Guest Relations, she set up a 'Helping House Fund' for our team to donate to out of their weekly paychecks that we use for situations like this," said Wise.
 

"Thank you again, to all my team that helps organize this event.  Lauren Fiedler, Director of Marketing and Promotions, puts in many hours getting all the toys together from all our restaurants, categorizing by boy/girl/age and then loading up 3 cars full of bags for us to deliver.  Riley is always so accommodating as we come in the hospital.  And, 4 other people on my team volunteer to come with me and pass out the toys as well.  We even have to put on masks, gowns and gloves for some of the rooms; but, no child is ignored, no matter how sick or isolated they are. I also want to say thank you to our guests that also bought over 600 Red Wagons that we hung on our bar all month and donated $600 to the Riley Foundation.  We continue to collect and donate $1 for every cup of Red Wagon Hot Chocolate a guest orders at any of our restaurants.  Thank you for all your continued support of our community.  Happy Holidays from my personal family and Brewhouse family of over 1,000 employees!" said Wise.

Pictured: Tyler Thompson, Bruce McClain, Eric Schamp, Angie Vosmeier, Ryan Kellerman and Scott Wise.
"With the new expanded and remodeled wing of Riley Children's Hospital, we were able to visit 17 children ranging in age from 2 weeks old to 14 years old and every age in between.  Now, as a parent myself, I notice their reactions more than I used to and I'll tell you, the smiles come from the children; but, tears of joy come from many parents that have an echoing affect amongst all us elves delivering the toys," said Wise.

Heading to Downtown Indianapolis this weekend to cheer on your college team? Whether you are an IU, Butler, Purdue or Notre Dame fan you will want to check out the action happening at Scotty's Brewhouse! We will have a heated tent on our patio opening at 10am on Saturday, plenty of drink specials including 16oz Tall Boy Cans of Miller Lite & Coors Light for $4 along with $4.50 syringe shots and of course TV's to catch every second of the game! Purdue and Butler start off the action at 2pm on Saturday with IU and Notre Dame following at 4:30pm. If you are attending the game be sure to stop by for pre-game drinks or afterwards to celebrate your team's victory!

Scotty's Brewhouse Downtown is also the Official Purdue Alumni Headquarters, "The Purdue Alumni Association saw a great opportunity to partner with Scotty's from the very first day the downtown location opened. The fact that there is a Scotty's located in West Lafayette and our fan base is familiar with Scotty's was a big plus and the fact the Scotty's Downtown Indy location is the closest restaurant to Conseco made it the only choice for us. This will be our third year using Scotty's as our pre-game/post-game hangout for Purdue basketball in Indianapolis," said Chad Johnson, V.P. of Engagement & Alumni Outreach for Purdue Alumni.

The Purdue Alumni Association will be decorating the tent with Bolier garb along with bringing Purdue spirit to the downtown area, "we look forward to working with the staff at Scotty's to provide a location for our fans that feels like they have come back to campus. The fans, cheer leaders and the band make for a very festive event. The best part is seeing loyal Purdue Alumni and Friends enjoying the camaraderie of their Boilermaker family," said Johnson.

Not being able to be home for the holidays is something that many deal with yearly whether it be plane ticket prices, weather or, for thousands of kids, health.

Now until December 9, 2011, all Scotty's restaurants, including Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co, Scotty's Lakehouse, Scotty's Burger Joint and Scotty's Brewhouse locations, will be collecting new unwrapped toys for the children staying at Riley Hospital for Children. For every toy donation made you will receive a free order of Dill Chips. 

During a few special days you will also be able to see the 501^st Legion 'guarding' the Riley keep.

• November 27th from 6p-8p the 501^st Legion will be at Scotty's Burger Joint, 310 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201
• November 29th from 6p-8p the 501^st Legion will be at Scotty's Brewhouse 3905 E 96^th St. Indianapolis, IN 46240
• December 4th from 6p-8p the 501^st Legion will be at Scotty's Brewhouse 352 E State St. West Lafayette, IN 47906

What is the 501^st Legion? "We originally were created over a decade ago by a group of Star Wars fans whose main interest was creating the most screen accurate costumes possible to wear at events like sci-fi conventions. Over the years, however, our mission has evolved into appearing at charity and sporting events, parades, hospitals, and official promotions for Star Wars," said Matt Hofmann, the Central Indiana Events Coordinator of the 501st Legion.

One member will be donating their entire Star Wars collection to the cause during their stent at the Scotty's Burger Joint location on November 27^th. "Chris Baker, one of our Rebel Legion members, was brought into the world of costuming indirectly through toy collection. Through the years of participating in events such as this toy drive, he realized that what we do is so much bigger than the movies or dressing up or collecting toys, so he decided that instead of holding onto them, he made the decision to donate the toys to Riley Kids, knowing how many children could be brought happiness during the holidays as a result," said Hofmann. 

This isn't the first time the 501^st legion has been involved in Scotty's. "Our affiliation with Scotty's has been very similar in evolution, where we initially started appearing during GenCon in Indianapolis last year, but since then has included the promotion of the Riley Kids toy events. The 501st and Rebel Legions have always kept promoting children's charities and organizations our top priority, and there is no more important time during the year to keep these groups in people's minds than during the holidays. We're often called living action figures by people who come to our events, so participating in toy drives makes perfect sense," said Hofmann.

To sweeten the deal, the days that the 501^st Legion is going to be at the Scotty's locations are the same days that your kids can eat free. Nothing like a lesson in giving your new toys to others along with getting their meal completely free.

Many of those 'other restaurants' (and even us in previous years) would give 'Bonus Bucks' to only be used Monday - Thursday and only in January and February.  Not this year and not Scotty's group of restaurant concepts.  Nope.  You can use the bonus money anytime, any day of the week, at any restaurant, any way you choose!

NO RESTRICTIONS! You heard right, this year you can buy a $50 gift card and get $60 or a $100 gift card and get $125 online or in-store with no restrictions! Starting this Friday you can fill up your imaginary sleigh with one heck of a mo'fo' deal. Buy in-store and you can use the extra $10 or $25 you earn on yourself to buy one of our now available brew-homemade bottled sauces or give it away as a present your friends and family are sure to enjoy. You can use your extra bonus gift card when you want, where you want. Now all Scotty's gift cards are valid at ALL locations including Scotty's Brewhouse, Scotty's Lakehouse, Scotty's Burger Joint and Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company.
 
Want to split that $50 gift card into 2 $25's? No problem, if you come in-store we can do that.
 
Need the gift card within 24 hours? We have you covered with our new digital gift cards from our online store!
 
*All gift cards cannot be used until 24 hours after purchase.
**Offer valid until December 24, 2011.

Scotty's now offers your favorite gift available for order online! Log on to any of our sites purchase a gift card and have it e-mailed to you within two hours of ordering! Last minute gifts have never been so easy.

We all have those hotel shampoos and conditioners lying around not getting used. Why not donate them for a good cause? All Scotty's locations are currently collecting new toiletries and toys for our annual Thanksgiving dinner, which is held at our downtown Indianapolis location. This year we plan on accommodating over 200 Indianapolis residents who are in need of a warm Thanksgiving Day meal. We would also like to give these guests a little more when they leave by providing adults with the essentials and the children with a toy or two. So for every two things you donate at any of our locations now until Nov 14th you will receive a FREE order of our almost world famous dill chips! So look in that hall closet, find those unopened deodorants, shampoos and soaps, and bring them in for a good cause.