SOB Festival Announces 2013 Recipient Charity

Online, May 22, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The planning committee for the Springfield Oyster and Beer Festival has chosen the recipient charity for 2013. Proceeds from the 4th annual SOB Festival, as it's more recognizably known, will go to the Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation.

CIAF founder, Michelle Tjelmeland, shared her enthusiasm about this announcement by saying, "I am thrilled and honored that the Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation has been given this amazing gift. The generosity of the people behind the SOB Festival is going to allow CIAF to reach so many more families dealing with hearing loss and maintaining cochlear implants."

After considering many worthy local charities, organizers ultimately chose CIAF because of its founder's reputation. According to Karen Conn, one of the event's founding organizers, she and her husband, Court, have known Tjelmeland for a long time. "I know what generous and kind things she has done with the foundation", Conn shared, "so we pushed for CIAF as this year's recipient."

Founded in 2006, the Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based in Springfield, Illinois. Its mission is to provide information, resources, support, and understanding to cochlear implant recipients and their families.

The SOB Festival, to be held this year on September 7th and again in the lot of Inn at 835, is a unique event organized by local craft beer enthusiasts. Held from noon until 5, rain or shine, the event's primary goals are to educate the public about good quality beers, and to promote small, independent breweries.

Attendees are treated to the innovative and sometimes surprising craft beers from all over the Midwest.

According to Conn, she was blown away by a pumpkin spice beer last year, "I don't even like pumpkin but this beer was delicious!" Festivalgoers can definitely expect the unexpected again this year from more than 50 vendors. People won't want to miss the chance to try these unique, quality brews.

The "O" in SOB means oysters; East Coast oysters to be exact, are a staple of the festival. This year will include fresh New Orleans oysters, too. Other seafood and pub fare will also be available from Conn's Catering.

The SOB Festival donates all net proceeds each year to a different recipient charity. With a sizable attendance jump last year, the amount SOB gifted more than tripled between its inaugural year of 2010 and 2012, according to organizer Conn. This will mean a very generous donation to CIAF.

For more information about the Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation, visit http://www.ciafonline.org.

For more information about the Springfield Oyster and Beer Festival, visit http://www.sobfestival.com/