Barley, BBQ & Beats: A fundraiser wrapped in a party, surrounded by whiskey, food & music

Hospice of Michigan’s new event, Barley, BBQ & Beats, is certainly not your traditional fundraiser. Instead of black ties, white wine and classical music, it will be whiskey, barbecue and rock and roll. 

The fundraiser and community celebration will showcase whiskeys distilled in Michigan, along with barbeque from a “who’s who” of local pitmasters and live entertainment, including performances from Domestic Problems, Mid-Life Crisis and Big Dudee Roo.

Barley, BBQ & Beats will be held in the Van Andel Arena from 5-9 pm on Saturday, May 21. Proceeds will benefit Hospice of Michigan’s open access program, which provides hospice care for anyone needing it. Tickets are $35 (you must be at least 21 to go) and attendees will be able to sample barbecue from leading pitmasters, sip on specialty cocktails and listen to some great music.

Barbara Anderson, manager of philanthropy at Hospice of Michigan, says the event is inspired by the John Clay Memorial BBQ & Rib Cook-off, an annual May event  (May 13 this year) held by the Clay family in support of Hospice of Michigan, which has grown in popularity since its inception 15 years ago.

Since the barbecue scene in West Michigan is booming, the hope, Anderson says, is that the John Clay Memorial event will be the annual lead-in to a week-long celebration that ends with Barley, BBQ & Beats, perhaps opening the door for other philanthropic food, drink and music efforts. “We found that barbecue was becoming more popular than our other fundraising events,” she says.

Anderson says that there is a “great need to be creative and catch people’s attention” when it comes to fundraising. She says events are a great way to capture attention and have fun at the same time. Anderson says the organizers hope to raise $250,000 for Hospice of West Michigan and their open access program.

To buy tickets or for more information, please visit hom.convio.net/bbbfestival or contact contact Alex Wilson at 616.356.5288 or [email protected].

Hospice of Michigan is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. The nonprofit cares for nearly 1,800 patients each day, raising more than $5 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Job News Editor