On Saturday, April 29, the MacDill Top III Association along with Olympian Clinical Research (OCR) hosted the first ever “Brew Ha-Ha for the Troops” fundraiser at Cage Brewery in St. Petersburg benefitting the Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) Mission.  When Sgt. Thomas Laing of the MacDill Top III Association met with OCR in February to discuss fundraising assistance, OCR welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to supporting our troops by organizing fundraisers on behalf of the AFEV.

The Air Force Enlisted Men’s Widows and Dependents Home Foundation was founded in 1967 to provide a safe and dignified residence for indigent surviving spouses of retired, enlisted airmen. At the time, a survey conducted by the Air Force Sergeant’s Association determined that more than 50,000 widows of enlisted airmen were living in poverty.

The MacDill Top III Association is a private organization consisting of service members of the top 3 enlisted ranks assigned to MacDill Air Force Base (AFB). This group’s dedication to the AFEV’s mission is unparalleled!

Olympian Clinical Research has been actively conducting research in the areas of dermatology, mental health, primary care, women’s health, and memory loss since 2007. OCR ensures that all research is carefully conducted and that all study participants have a positive experience while gaining knowledge about their condition. Along with the potential health benefits from volunteering, study participants are given access to treatments not yet widely available.

The combined efforts of the MacDill Top III Association and Olympian Clinical Research resulted in a phenomenally successful event! Over $500 was raised for AFEV to support their newly expanded housing accommodations and over 100 people attended the event to show their support!

The incredible music by the wildly talented band CRS Project and the delectable cuisine from the Fiesta Bowls Food Truck made our fundraiser one to remember! We are also grateful to our grassroots partners, such as Access Home & Design of Florida.

Cage Brewery was an excellent host as always helping to create a family-friendly atmosphere while serving delicious craft beverages.

On behalf of the three organizations involved, we thank all attendees for their loyalty and kindness toward the men and woman of the U.S. Armed Forces, both active and retired.

Please join us on May 12th from 5-8PM at Cigar City Cider & Mead in Ybor for another Brew Ha-Ha for the Troops event! CRS Project will be performing live again and even more raffle items will be up for grabs! More details available on the Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/281984475571253/?