here’s an official email response from micheal stevens (president of founders brewing company) regarding their decision to force the organizers of local threads to drop planned parenthood as their charity:
Founders is merely supplying the venue for the Local Threads Fashion Show, a show that showcases local artists and their works. Supporting our local community of artists is something Founders has done for years and will continue to do in the future. We did not choose the charity to support for this event, the artist group did. Once we found out about which charity was chosen, I had to step in. At Founders, we have a strict policy in regards to supporting any charity and or political affiliation. Our policy is to remain neutral and not put ourselves into any moral bias situation at all. It simply isn’t worth it for us. This is why we had to step in and choose to support the very worthy cause, Kids Food Basket. In fact, as a result of this unforeseen incident we will no longer be allowing any outside charity events to take place at our facility without our 100% voice in where the proceeds are going. Our goal is simple, make the best beer we can and focus on that and that only.
Thanks,
Mike Stevens | President
Founders Brewing Company
-srd
15 responses so far ↓
Steadyracer // September 15, 2009 at 1:01 pm |
Hmmm. I agree with you that it is a smart stance to stay neutral in any matters like this…but by supporting ANY charity, even ones you choose to pre-approve, you are not being neutral – you are condoning some and throwing your hands up for the others under the guise of “neutrality”. In fact, you think you are playing it safe but people can see the divide loud and clear.
Had you said “this is my business, and the charity that is most important to me is ______” and you stuck to that, I would support it. But you are passively admitting your intentions with your inconsistent neutrality.
I am not suggesting a boycott either – but word is already getting around on FB and Twitter that you did GR wrong on this one. I’ll be taking my business to Hopcat.
DaveyK // September 15, 2009 at 1:17 pm |
“Supporting our local community of artists is something Founders has done for years and will continue to do in the future.”
Yes has decided not to support another organization that supports the community. . .
Rei // September 15, 2009 at 1:27 pm |
Fuck Hopcat. Hopcat is directly shitty toward its employees, patrons and the artists who have performed there. Founders is making a decision to stay outside of a political arena in which it never made motion to enter. It definitely isn’t doing GR wrong and even a substantial buffer phrase wouldn’t adequately dismiss the fact that declaring you are taking your business elsewhere is precisely what supporting a boycott is. To say you aren’t doing it while announcing that you plan to do it makes even less sense than chastising Founders for kowtowing to people who “have managed to acquire telephones or emails to express their discomfort” and then encouraging people to complain by calling the house phone number and giving one of the employees a piece of their mind.
jbrylah // September 15, 2009 at 2:00 pm |
It makes perfect sense, if you read the entire message. Not surprised to read this from you, however, Rei.
Steadyracer // September 15, 2009 at 2:38 pm |
Rei, I’m not telling other people what to do, just announcing what I believe and what I plan to do.
And they aren’t staying out of the political arena. They made an actual political decision by requesting a different charity. That’s in itself a political move. Had they said “sorry. No charities. just business” I would respect it more. Believe it or not, its still political to choose a food bank over a sexual health organization, whether one has more controversy surrounding it than the other.
Steadyracer // September 15, 2009 at 2:46 pm |
or…
The best way that Founders could have really stayed neutral is to say ANY charity is welcome at Founders, and the views and opinions of the charities are not that of Founders. But kicking out one charity after-the-fact, and then condoning another one is just bad business.
p.s. who ever said that a food bank couldn’t be considered just as controversial? Its fake neutrality.
Rei // September 15, 2009 at 2:56 pm |
That’s true (although I would say that the food bank is less controversial). Founders is not being neutral, as is the case when one supports a charity. I’m just taken aback by the demeanor of the backlash (mostly on fb) against Founders regarding this.
Steadyracer // September 15, 2009 at 3:07 pm |
Rei, I think people just don’t like being disappointed in the decisions of businesses and organizations we support. People feel let down. Their success feels like our success, and when they do something wrong, it feels like we are wrong for continuing quietly like nothing happened.
Its harder to be proud of your favorite local tavern when they make a choice like this, then give a reason that contradicts their actions on top of it. If in their open letter they said, “We cannot support Planned Parenthood. We do not believe in this charity.” I would respect it. Heaven knows I have charities I do not believe in. But their wishy-washy answer offends my sensibilities, and insults my intelligence. Is it the political backlash they fear, or do they not support the charity? The inconsistency of the whole “we must be neutral…….but Food Pantry is a good cause” statement makes me not want to support them.
Rei // September 15, 2009 at 3:34 pm |
This was an unfortunate series of occurrences and I am disappointed with the decision to not support PP. I agree that a response to it was due but the concentrated vitriol upon Founders squarely seems to shy away the blame from other parties involved. Some assholes don’t like seriously needed edifices such as Planned Parenthood because of some horseshit that other assholes told them. Founders didn’t create the ignorance, but they did give into it. In turn, Local Threads pandered to Founders’ demands. Singling out Founders seems selective and, worse, dismissive of the obtuse individuals who are starting fires like this all the time.
srdailey // September 15, 2009 at 4:00 pm |
i agree with what a lot of what rei is saying here. i almost think that local threads should have taken a stand if the cause was that important to them. clearly, it wasn’t. not that that’s a bad thing, money for charity is money for charity. i still would’ve liked to see the money go to PP as originally intended before the religious right scared founders into submission. regardless of what the president says, it’s pretty clear that that’s how it went down.
Jacob // September 15, 2009 at 8:34 pm |
It saddens me that you people think you’re on a holy mission from God to impede upon the fund-raising of a reputable charity that supports women and families in need, especially in economic times like these. Who are you to step on the feet of some harmless artists and designers who are simply doing what they love for a cause they believe in?
Founders doesn’t kill babies, you people kill GR.
J.R (not junior) // September 16, 2009 at 11:30 pm |
This is purely a public relations issue for Founders brewery. This area is like some type of bastard mirror of the bible belt, speaking as an independent politically and an Atheist..er..religiously, this is just another example of conformity to the branding that the “big three” controlling families have put on West Michigan.
Founders makes great beer. It’s a great bar, but they don’t do good PR! You’re decision should have involved the people that VISIT your bar, instead you make a unilateral decision that pisses a lot of your fans off!
Take note from the recent debacle with Whole Foods and their CEO, the dumbass goes out and makes a political statement contrary to the voice of their publics and gets his company some BAD PR!
You can do what you want Mr. “Ironic Mustache”, but so can we as offended consumers. I personally will boycott founders beer for no less than 30 days because of your actions, and if I find a better alternative I may never return. Don’t care? Okay, but remember and angry consumer tells 3000 people
I’ll get started tomorrow.
srdailey // September 17, 2009 at 1:02 pm |
ummm, myironicmustache was one the firs sites to bring attention to this issue. i’m not sure why you’re addressing me/this site rather than mike stephens or founders.
J.R (not junior) // September 18, 2009 at 2:20 pm |
Well, someone linked me the post saying that the founders founder had released a statement…seeing a hipster douchebag mustache blog I honestly just assumed that you were he but I didn’t read it too closely — it had been a long day. I apologize I assumed and made an ass out of you and me
That being said I thought I WAS addressing someone up there at Founders with those comments, I wouldn’t have been as derogatory towards you had I known you were fighting their stupidity. Peace buddy.
Sara // November 22, 2009 at 7:06 pm |
For my gender studies capstone project at GVSU I have set out to raise the funds Planned Parenthood missed out on, and show Founder’s Brewery their wrong step by sending around a petition of this very nature.
Please help me surpass my goal of 500 signatures by visiting the link and signing here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/support-planned-parenthood-of-grand-rapids