Get Involved: Drink Beer to Support Girls Rock Denver

Ratio Beerworks officially rocks.

On June 17, the RiNo brewery is hosting a gear drive for Girls Rock Denver, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to empowering girls, trans, and gender-nonconforming youth through music education, creation, performance, and community. From 1 to 5 p.m. at Ratio’s location on Larimer, the organization will be accepting donations of instruments and music production equipment. In addition, Ratio will donate $1 to the nonprofit for every beer sold during the event.

Girls Rock Denver has been in operation since 2007. Each year, the organization hosts a week-long Summer Rock Camp, during which participants learn the ins and outs of the music industry, such as how to build lyrics, play instruments, edit music, market shows, and book bands. This year’s camp takes place July 9–14 and will include 84 participants between the ages of 8 and 17, according to Tristan Chan, Ratio Beerworks marketing manager.

In hopes of supporting the next generation of rockers, Ratio Beerworks and Girls Rock Denver are asking for donations of gently used and functional gear for use in their upcoming camp. The ultimate goal? Helping promote the young rockers’ confidence, self-reliance, courage, and creativity.

“The point of this gear drive is to put into tangible terms the impact people can make and help give back here locally,” says Chan, adding that the money generated from the fundraiser will help provide financial assistance to campers.

This isn’t the first time Ratio Beerworks has supported Girls Rock Denver. “Our co-founders come from the punk rock music scene, so we’re very much focused on supporting Denver DIY,” Chan says. Since they opened three years ago, Ratio has committed to giving about 10 percent of the beer and/or revenue generated from the taproom to organizations focused on music and arts. “We really appreciate Girls Rock Denver’s dedication to the future of music and Denver’s youth education,” Chan says.

Got something to donate? Girls Rock Denver is accepting the following items:

• Keyboards
• Keyboard stands
• Bass Practice amps
• XLR Cables
• Mic stands
• Vocal mics
• Headphones
• Drum Hardware Cases
• New or non-cracked cymbals
• Guitar pedals used or new
• PA’s
• Left handed guitars
• Left handed basses
• iPad or iPad Mino
• Earplugs
• Drum heads
• Drum sticks
• Guitar picks
• Guitar and bass strings and straps

If you go: The gear drive and fundraiser takes place on Sunday, June 17, 1–5 p.m.; Ratio Beerworks, 2920 Larimer St.