7 Brew fundraiser raises over $20K for Discovery Playhouse ahead of Cape Girardeau opening

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Before officially opening its doors in Cape Girardeau, 7 Brew is already making an impact in the community.

During the company’s three-day “Caffeine for a Cause” fundraiser, customers donated more than $20,000 to Discovery Playhouse, a nonprofit children’s museum serving families across southeast Missouri.

The event, held Friday through Sunday ahead of 7 Brew’s Aug. 3 soft opening, invited customers to pay whatever they wanted for a drink, with all proceeds benefiting Discovery Playhouse,

Executive Director Courtney Corbett said the museum was honored to be selected as the local nonprofit partner.

“We felt very fortunate to be contacted by Seven Brew about the opportunity for Caffeine for a Cause. Certainly we wanted to be part of that, and we didn’t really know what that meant, but we were certainly happy to be part of it and being chosen,” Corbett said.

By the end of the fundraiser, the community had contributed more than $20,000 — far exceeding the museum’s expectations.

“It certainly took us by surprise,” Corbett said. “We certainly know that Cape Girardeau and the area of customers here are very generous, and we know that they have a good feeling about Discovery Playhouse. We were certainly blown away by the response.”

Discovery Playhouse, established in 2006 and located in Cape Girardeau since 2010, is a nonprofit children’s museum featuring 29 hands-on exhibits designed for children ages 6 months to 8 years old.

Corbett said the unexpected donation will help the museum enhance exhibits, explore future expansion opportunities and keep admission affordable for local families.

“We always have a wish list of things we’d like to do to enhance some exhibits and maybe expand. So we’re certainly going to look at all our opportunities and move from there,” Corbett said.

As Discovery Playhouse celebrates its 20th anniversary, Corbett said the community’s generosity will have a lasting impact on the museum and the families it serves.

“A heartfelt thank you to our community. We certainly appreciate all of the support and generosity that was shown through this event. We appreciate 7 Brew choosing us, and we hope everyone comes out and supports them as they open in Cape Girardeau.”