Penguin City Organizes Giveaway for 17-Year-Old Shooting Victim
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — In May, 17-year-old Christa Harrison was outside with friends on the city’s south side when she was shot through her neck and the bullet went out through her spine.
She has been in the hospital since the shooting and has undergone four surgeries. Her family is trying to raise money for her to get a wheelchair so she can go home. Without the wheelchair, Harrison will be forced to live in a rehabilitation facility.
In an effort to help Harrison’s family bring Christa home, Penguin City Brewing Co. is organizing a Penguin Giveaway to raise money for the family. Donors who contribute at least $20 to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Harrison’s family will be eligible to win a prize package from Penguin City worth more than $500, according to a company release.
Penguin City’s co-owner, Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, reached out to the family to offer her help after seeing a report on WKBN, she said. The company looks to raise awareness to the GoFundMe campaign with the giveaway.
“We always talk about raising up and supporting local businesses, but we also cannot forget about our community,” Lyras-Bernacki said in the release. “This young woman’s life has changed forever and she needs our support.”
The giveaway package includes:
- Penguin City Beer mint green logo cooler.
- Penguin City growler with an invitation to fill the growler and attend the company’s “first look” party before the taproom is open.
- Two Penguin City pint glasses.
- Two Penguin City tasters.
- Penguin City Red Winter Warmer campfire tin.
- New merchandise, including baseball cap, stocking cap, T-shirt, sweatshirt and socks.
- Penguin City metal tin tacker.
- Penguin City YSU Pete banner.
- Two branded koozies.
- Tickets to YSU basketball games during the 2021-22 season.
- Posters.
- Koozies.
- $100 cash.
Penguin City invites other area businesses to participate and donate prizes to the giveaway. They can contact Lyras-Bernacki at [email protected].
The winner will be announced on Facebook after the Go Fund Me campaign hits its goal. As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, 72 donors had contributed nearly $3,000 of the $8,000 goal.
All giveaway entrants will be invited to the brewery’s “first look” party before it officially opens at 460 E. Federal St., and will also be invited to a fundraiser event for Harrison at the taproom when it opens.
“You will have the ultimate Penguin City Package and you can feel good knowing that you helped this young girl in our community get her wish to come home,” Lyras-Bernacki said. “If any other businesses would like to help donate prizes for the GoFundMe, please let me know.”
Click HERE to make a donation to the Christa Harrison GoFundMe campaign.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
