One of the most incredible things I’ve witnessed covering the craft beer industry is the willingness and ability of its member companies to help out charity causes, campaigns and non-profit organizations. Prime example is the ParkWay Tavern‘s Pints With Purpose Collab-A-Gasm Saturday, June 13. ParkWay manager Sean Jackson has elicited the help Of Columbia Distributing and six of the distributor’s client breweries/cideries. Hop Valley Brewing Co., Two Beers Brewing Co., Seattle Cider Company, New Belgium Brewing, Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits and Georgetown Brewing will take over the ParkWay’s taps, host raffle drawings and help raise money for The Lost Kids, a group of folks who pedal in the annual Alaska Airlines Courage Classic Bicycle Tour, which generates funds for the Rotary Endowment for the Intervention and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The three-day, 173-mile “pedal for the kids” event travels over three challenging mountain passes — Snoqualmie, Blewett and Stevens. The Lost Kids team will hang out at the ParkWay’s Pint With Purpose Collab-A-Gasm, too.

“One of our loyal patrons is on The Lost Kids team so the ParkWay made jerseys for team’s ride in the Courage Classic last year,” says Jackson. “This year we wanted to take it up a notch to help battered kids. Plus, I’ve wanted to do more brewery collaborations. So, this year the ParkWay is hosting a fundraiser for The Lost Kids with a collaboration of Columbia Distributing breweries.”

Fifty cents from every pint of Hop Valley, Two Beers, New Belgium, Ballast Point, Georgetown and Seattle Cider sold from noon to 8 p.m. will go toward The Lost Kids’ cause. Such is the generous and compassionate nature of this industry, something every bit as impressive as the ales and lagers it yields. Hop Valley will tap Sir Orangelot Pale Ale, Citrus Mistress IPA and Pick And Grin IPA. Ballast is bringing Grapefruit Sculpin IPA, Sour Wench and Bourbon Barrel Aged Victory at Sea.

Raffles will be held throughout the day. Among the many prizes will be a messenger bag from New Belgium.

Cheers to the terrific breweries taking part in this effort, and cheers to beer and its ability to make lives better in such a variety of ways.

PINTS WITH PURPOSE COLLAB-A-GASM, noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 13, ParkWay Tavern, 313 N. I St., Tacoma, 253.383.8748

Update: The photos are in!