Feel Good Friday to aid fight against breast cancer

Sponsored by Firewhistle Brewing and Northwest Bank, it will begin at 5 p.m. today in Elizabeth.

Firewhistle Brewing in Elizabeth and Northwest Bank are teaming up for an event called Feel Good Friday, bringing the community together for great drinks, live music and a good cause.

Set for 5 to 11 p.m. today at 107 N. 2nd Ave., the event will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Greater Pittsburgh.

Elizabeth Councilman Jason Berman, who owns Firewhistle Brewing, said its mission is community and the event is about bringing people together for a good cause.

“One of our owners, and my best friend, his wife died from breast cancer a few years ago,” Berman told the Mon Valley Independent.

“We really made it a point to have that as one of our big charities that we give back to. Every year we do an event with Northwest Bank, and they wanted to do this, and it kind of fell in our wheelhouse.”

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the American Cancer Society’s nationwide movement bringing communities together to support people impacted by breast cancer.

Funds raised help support lifesaving breast cancer research, patient programs and services, advocacy, and resources for patients and families.

Presented by Northwest Bank, the evening will feature a specialty drink with proceeds from every pour benefiting Making Strides. Guests can also enjoy giveaways, prizes and live music from Jay Wiley.

The fundraiser benefits the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Greater Pittsburgh walk Oct. 8. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk at 10:30 a.m.

Last year, Firewhistle raised $5,300 with Northwest Bank for nonprofit The Veterans Place in Pittsburgh, according to Berman, who added that they dedicate their funding to ending veteran homelessness and helping local veterans transition to stable, independent lives.

Because Berman is also a fireman, he said Firewhistle wants to champion the community, and they pour their drinks in 11 different counties.

So wherever Firewhistle is poured, Berman said they try to support all those communities.

“We tried to do local events, but specifically here in the Mon Valley and because our taproom’s located in the Mon Valley,” Berman said. “We tried to do local events that benefit the local staff like fire departments around here, non-profits and everything. It’s a good positive here in the Valley, for sure.”