Local businesses show some love for United Way

The Lycoming County United Way (LCUW) is kicking off its annual Cup of Love and Pint of Love fundraisers, teaming up with Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Company and the Bullfrog Brewery and focusing on community, local businesses and nonprofits.

"What we're really trying to do this year is trying to get more engagement with the community so more people get to Alabaster, get to the Bullfrog, take pictures," said Ron Frick, LCUW's CEO.

"This is one of those situations where it's really not as much about us making money as it is about us really engaging with the community," Frick said.

Presented by UPMC, LCUW is partnering with two local businesses to show some "love" during February -- American Heart Health Month.

Cup of Love LCUW is proud to be an annual recipient of Alabaster's Community Tap Program, a grassroots benevolence effort shared among participating local businesses and sponsors to give back to local non-profit and charitable organizations.

For the month, Alabaster will feature "The Cup of Love," a Strawberry Mocha Cappuccino topped with a freeze-dried strawberry. For every purchase $2 will directly benefit the LCUW and the 33 community programs they support in Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga counties.

"Again, this year, the United Way is also leveraging the generosity of corporate and individual donors to increase the value of each Cup of Love sold at Alabaster. To date over $13,000 has been committed to support this effort," according to information from LCUW.

For the second year in a row, LCUW is the February recipient of the Bullfrog Brewery's Community Tap Program: the Pint of Love.

This year's Pint of Love is the Billtown Blonde, a Bullfrog classic, originating in 1996. It is described as a crisp, refreshing ale, with light citrus nuances and a nice malt backbone. For every pint purchased $2 will be donated to LCUW.

"A few years ago, interest in Heart Health Month in February, prompted us to look for ways to engage with community partners to bring awareness to the issue of heart health but also to have some fun while enjoying some awesome local drinks," Frick said.

"We hope the community will come out to support our efforts, but also support some of our locally-owned business partners," he said.

Anyone interested in supporting Month of Love events as a sponsor should contact Ron Frick at the United Way at 570-323-9448.