If this post is not in keeping with membership rules, please remove it and accept my apologies. I am using KickStarter to fund a scholarship. Here are the details:
Grub Rub ScholarshipWhen I was in the Navy and came home on leave, my friends always asked what was up with my baby brother. They called him “The Grump,” as he answered most questions with a grunt like he was annoyed. Fast forward to his college graduation and learning he was going to be a teacher was a shock to almost everyone. Even on of my friends asked how he could teach when he didn’t even talk much.
He was a teacher, football coach and mentor for 35 years when he suddenly passed away. At his service, I witnessed how he impacted people, especially during the latter years of his career. In his high school, kids were leaving school at a high rate. Not because they were troubled, or even failing. They left to earn some money to help the family.
At the wake, literally hundreds of young people came to pay respect. There was fireman, police officers, plumbers, and many others with one thing in common. They all were able to stay in school while working because of a program my baby brother was passionate about. He and others at their school, worked tirelessly, finding employers who understood these kids’ situation and were willing to work out schedules that allowed these kids to earn money for home and earn a diploma to continue their education.
As my kids got older, they started calling him Uncle Grumpy and the name just stuck. At this stage of my life, I look back at a lot of the adventures and misadventures of career choices. Each time, Uncle Grumpy would support me by hoping whatever it was, that this one was the one that worked out. Now, after 7 years of building a dry rub company, it may be that it’s finally going to “work out,” and become something.
In honoring not only his memory, but the honor of being his brother, I’ve created a rub with his name and will be releasing it to raise scholarship money that will be given to the high school he taught at to support the continuation of his mission. If we can cover trade school tuitions, buy tools, books, etc., for the kids he worked so hard to support, I believe the world can be a better place.
Normally, we sell our rubs in 4.5 ounce bottles. Since this is special and raising money for a great cause, the bottles will be more than double that and hold 12 ounces, almost triple our normal size. There will only be 2,500 bottles numbered and sold with a goal of raising between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on shipping and expenses to kick this scholarship fund off.
The bottles will begin shipping in 10-12 weeks from now. I am posting this now to allow friends and family to pre-reserve by joining this campaign. Once we begin production, you will be notified when you can expect shipment.
If we sell all 2500 bottles, after actual expenses, we should have a fund somewhere between $20,000 - $30,000, which is a fantastic start to provide scholarships to those who normally wouldn’t qualify.
Thanks on behalf of my Sister-in-law, nephew and all the folks here.
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