Metal Monkey Brewing Going Big For St. Baldrick's, Aiming For $50K

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville has set the bar high for its St. Baldrick's shave event.

The craft brewery with a heavy metal edge will host its second annual shave event in coordination with fundraising group Team Stunod on Saturday, March 25. It will mark the brewery's fifth year working with the group, with previous efforts focused on pre-shave event swith raffles and silent auction prizes to raise money.

With a successful debut shave event and $26,000 raised last year, Metal Monkey Brewing Co-owner Jason Janes decided to go even bigger. They've set a $50,000 fundraising goal.

"It's a big number," Janes said, "but last year we raised $26,000 and as we speak we are only a few hundred dollars away from last year's efforts, so we DEFINITELY think with the help of our kickass community we help raise a lot of money for a great cause!"

The brewery, located at 515 Anderson Dr., Ste 900, has a full lineup set for the fundraiser, including raffles and silent auction items, live band performances and a live broadcast by QRock 100.7 and Elwood in The Morning. They'll also debut a beer made especially for the occasion, St. Baldrick's IPA. The beer will be available both on draft and in 4-packs to go.

"We combined two French hops, Elixir and Barbe Rouge, and added house-roasted coffee to give this IPA a citrus and dark berry finish, with notes of leather and tobacco to compliment the coffee," Janes told Patch. "An easy-drinker at 5 percent ABV and 33 IBUs. A portion of the draft and can sales also are donated to the fundraising efforts!"

The event, set for 12 to 10 p.m. Saturday, will include performances from School of Rock Plainfieldand 90s alt-rock/grunge acoustic duo, The Powdered Toast Men. Food vendor will be Edrolls Filipino Fusion, known for their gourmet handcrafted egg rolls with unique twists. The fundraiser is just one of many in which Metal Monkey Brewing has a hand.

"We've always tried to help charities over the years with various fundraisers, but when one of our good friends and regulars, Gary Walsh, approached us about joining in their fundraising efforts with his neighbors it was a no-brainer," Janes said. "We wanted to make an impact the best way we could and with the shave event, and generous donations from dozens and dozens of businesses, we are able to help raise money for people who really need it."

Bolingbrook resident Walsh, who's behind the STUNOD group—(that's 'Donuts' backwards, by the way)—will also be among those to have their heads shaved. Walsh, Jeff Walsh and Michael Young will be shaved for "Team Stunod;" they have been participating to help fund cancer research for a combined 36 years.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is the largest charity funder of children's cancer research grants, and generates donations by organizations and groups holding shave events, with donors pledging funds toward the shavees.

Metal Monkey Brewing's event in partnership with Team Stunod will feature honored guest and cancer survivor Katherine Gibbons. A Burr Ridge resident, Katherine is a 21-year-old Wilms tumor cancer survivor. Gibbons was diagnosed with Wilms tumor cancer—also known as pediatric kidney cancer— in January 2003. Gibbons received extensive chemotherapy for two and a half years, and on her second birthday, she had surgery to remove her right kidney. After chemotherapy, Gibbons entered remission, which lasted for 10 years. She still attends annual oncology appointments at Lurie Children’s Hospital. Gibbons has been considered cancer-free for more than 10 years, and she is now receiving her undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame.

Visitors can bid on "dozens and dozens" of raffle prizes and silent auction items, Janes said. The winners will be drawn at night, and need not be present. Prizes include restaurant and brewery gift cards, concert tickets, sporting event tickets, home brew equipment, jewelry, clothes and more.

Donations can be made online in advance of the event, and day-of.

"Our biggest hope for the fundraiser is to bring awareness to childhood cancer," Janes said, "and to do whatever we can—as small as it may be—to help someone in need in our community."