Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery to Hold 10th Annual Fundraiser for UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center

PITTSBURGH, March 4, 2011 – As a tribute to firefighters across the nation and a fundraiser for the region’s only Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center and comprehensive burn center under one roof, Pittsburgh’s Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery is teaming up for the 10th consecutive year with area fire departments for a month-long promotion to benefit the Gertrude P. and Donald C.W. Birmingham Trauma and Burn Center at UPMC Mercy.

March 10 through 31, Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery will feature a variety of special events to raise money for the Center. Local firefighters and other guest bartenders will be on hand from 7 to 9 p.m. on event nights.

March 10 (Thursday)

6 to 10 p.m.

1st Annual Beer and BBQ Tasting

A tasting of a variety of beers from local microbreweries as well as a choice of different BBQ sauces. Tasting packages may be purchased for $10 or $20 and will include a commemorative pint glass.

7 p.m.

Fire Chief Ale tapping and live entertainment

This CraftWorks Foundation (formerly Rock Bottom Foundation) event will feature live entertainment and the tapping of this year’s Fire Chief Ale, brewed by Steve Panos, head brewer at Rock Bottom

March 23 (Wednesday)

5 p.m.

Fire Truck Show

Local fire departments will show off a wide variety of fire trucks. An awards ceremony will honor the best of show.

March 27 (Sunday)

1 p.m.

Fire Chief Fighter Challenge

For the third year, local firefighters will show off their fire fighting skills in a competition in the Rock Bottom parking lot where they will navigate an obstacle course, racing other contestants and the clock.

March 30 (Wednesday)

6 p.m.

Karaoke Contest

This event is open to all and will be held at Sing Sing, which is attached to Rock Bottom. The singer who brings in the most donations for the UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center will receive the $100 grand prize. In addition, tickets for a 50/50 raffle will be sold and a separate raffle for the chance to win several surprise items will be held. UPMC Mercy senior administrators will serve as guest bartenders this evening.

Over the past nine years, Pittsburgh’s Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery has donated more than $50,000 to the Mercy Trauma and Burn Center. Most recently, a VECTA® Distraction Station Deluxe Model was purchased with money raised during last year’s fundraising events. The machine, now in use at Mercy, creates multisensory environments that can soothe and relax patients as well as divert their attention during difficult procedures. Features include an interactive bubble column with color buttons, allowing patients to control the colors of the bubbles, a projector that uses various effects wheels to project a rotating image on the wall or ceiling, a CD player and an aromatherapy unit.

Pittsburgh’s Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery is located at 171 E. Bridge St. in the Waterfront, Homestead, Pa.

“UPMC Mercy is grateful for these fundraising efforts, but reminds everyone attending these events to appoint a designated driver,” said Tom Gronow, executive director, Emergency, Trauma and Burn Services at Mercy. The designated driver will receive a wristband that will entitle them to free soft drinks all night.

For more information about any of the Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery’s Fire Chief Ale events, please contact Lili Babic (412) 462-2739.