Beards and Brews 2024 

Celebrity bartenders will serve drinks with a splash of philanthropy during the Reading Hospital Foundation’s annual “Beards and Brews” event. 

A round of community all-stars representing Reading Hospital, as well as other local businesses, will serve specialty-themed drinks from 4:00 to 9 p.m. These cocktails include the “Meadhattan" and "Shaggy Sipper.” Any tips they collect will count towards their individual “No Shave November” fundraising goal. 

Event Information

“One of the best things about our community is their generosity,” said Paula Barrett, who is chair of Reading Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors and one of the celebrity bartenders. “Events like this showcase how we can make a difference when we work together.” 

“Beards and Brews” launches Reading Hospital Foundation’s popular “No Shave November” campaign, held each November to encourage people to grow out their hair and raise awareness of cancer and men’s health issues. The kickoff event is open to the public, and celebrity bartenders include: 

  • 4 to 4:30 p.m. - Tina Newcomb, Tina’s Therapeutic Touch, and Freddy Vasquez, FXV Digital 
  • 4:30 to 5 p.m. – Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital President and CEO, and Michael Coveney, Reading Hospital 
  • 5 to 5:30 p.m. – Charles F. Barbera, MD and Rebecca Brown, DO for Reading Hospital with Shawn White, MD, for the Center for Urologic Care of Berks County
  • 5:30 to 6 p.m. - Jennifer Crawl and Jennifer Gutzler, American Barber & Beauty Academy, and Andy Auchenbach, New Castle Lawn & Landscape 
  • 6 to 6:30 p.m. - Paula Barrett, Reading Hospital Foundation Board Chair, and Mike Koch, RKL 
  • 6:30 to 7 p.m. – Marc Goldstein, Blankets of Hope, and Lauren Holloway, Brick House Pub 
  • 7 to 7:30 p.m. – Stephanie Delibertis and Karen Norheim, American Crane 
  • 7:30 to 8 p.m. – Joe Delibertis and Matt Perini, D&S Elite 
  • 8 to 8:30 p.m. – Todd Skirving, Reading Royals, Alex Wortman, Penske and Mark McFadden, Immaculata University 
  • 8:30 to 9 p.m. – Joey Noll, Kaitlyn Singley and Nat Hertzog, Classic Harley Davidson 

Gro a Mo to Save a Bro.

Together, more than 100 community members and hospital staff members have committed to ‘Gro a Mo to Save a Bro.’ Their goal is to raise $60,000 for men’s health initiatives at McGlinn Cancer Institute-Reading Hospital. 

The purpose of No Shave November is to get people talking or thinking about hair. By donating money normally spent on hair care, and talking to others about their hair, they are also able to have important conversations about men’s health. Those conversations can ultimately help to save lives and provide much-needed support and awareness.

"Every donation makes a big difference,” said Katherine Thornton, President of Reading Hospital Foundation. “Men’s health is an important topic, and we want to bring it to the forefront by talking to the men in our lives and encouraging them to schedule their annual screenings.”