 At Happy Raptor, uplifting the work of local nonprofits is central to our operations and mission. We're lucky to partner with nonprofits year round, and this May it's our main focus - that's why we're dubbing it the Month of Giving. Keep reading for a full list of this month's partnerships and how you can support these great New Orleans-based organizations!
Are you involved with a nonprofit organization? We offer our space as an event venue at no cost to nonprofits. Contact our Guest Experience Coordinator for more information: mel@happyraptor.com.
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If you're an entrepreneur, then you know the special hell that is trying to name and trademark your new brand. It's one of those "should-be-fun-but-is-actually-pretty-hard" traps of getting started. When we were in that phase circa 2017, our son was still an infant. A loud, sort of screechy, but very sweet infant that didn't sleep. We often said he sounded like a velociraptor from Jurassic Park. After weeks or more of brainstorming and trademark database verifying, we had nothin' but a bunch of weird words smushed together. One evening, Peter made a comment that our son sounded like a velociraptor, but a happy one. (Not the door-opening, escape from the paddock, life finds a way raptor.) A Happy Raptor. Lightbulb. Perfect. Today, our son is almost four and the name still embodies his bright energy and our mission to create premium infused rum inspired by our culture, our community, and the things that bring us joy. The best surprise has been relating to other parents who come into the tasting room. On many an occasion, we've seen a mom or dad's face light up when we tell the story and exclaim, "My daughter sounded like a pterodactyl!" or "My kid was a T-Rex!". It's a reassuring connection that unexpectedly brings out the same nostalgia and joy in our guests as it does for us. As for our son, he only knows the company as "my raptor". Through Sat, September 19th, we're assisting University of Holy Cross to collect donations for members of our Louisiana community impacted by Hurricane Laura. Happy Raptor is happy to say thank you with a free 16oz. Hibiscus Hurricane every time you donate!
ITEMS NEEDED Reports from Lake Charles have stated that first responders are in great need of wash clothes and bath towels. · Cases of Bottled Water, Powerade, Gatorade [VERY IMPORTANT - They have no running water right now] · Contractor Trash Bags · Tarps · Work Gloves · Latex Gloves · Masks · Hand Sanitizer · Cases of Bleach, Lysol, Clorox Wipes, etc. · Rakes, Mops, Brooms, Buckets, Shovels, etc. · Utility Knives (for removing sheetrock) · Cases of Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Kleenex, etc. · Flashlights & Batteries · Non-perishable dry goods and canned goods · Easily prepared non-perishable food (remember - no electricity and no tap water) · Baby Items (Diapers, Wipes, Formula, Food, Bottles, Powder, etc.) · Plastic storage bins · Soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, razors, floss, feminine products, deodorant, etc. · Boxes & Packing Tape · Duct Tape · Dog and Cat Food · Giftcards (Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) NOTE: We are NOT ACCEPTING clothes  Throughout the month of July, Happy Raptor Distilling will partner with our friends at Angel's Place to collect gift cards and school supplies for members of our community in need. Angel's Place provides ongoing support services to children with life threatening illnesses and their families. Every individual (21 years or older) making a donation in the Happy Raptor tasting room gets one free freeze pop. GIFT CARDS Preferred locations include Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, and Visa/Mastercard. Preferred amounts include $25 and $50, but any amount is appreciated. SCHOOL SUPPLIES Here's the list of needed supplies: Spiral Notebooks: 3 subject, 5 subject. College ruled Binders - 1/2", 1", 2" Scientific calculators T-84 graphing calculators EXPO markers - black (most needed) RED ink pens Plastic folders with pockets - all colors Plastic folders with pockets & prong fasteners - all colors Binder dividers - tabbed, 5,8,12 packs Construction paper - small packs Markers - washable - in packs of 8 or 10 Highlighters - yellow (most needed) Staplers Erasers - pink rectangles, individual pencil tops Tape - rolls of Scotch tape in plastic dispenser Scissors - pointy for older students USB thumb drives Headphones or earbuds Index cards - Lined, white Ruled handwriting tablet for K, 1st gr. Watercolor paints - Crayola 6 or 8 set Colored pencils Loose leaf - wide ruled, college ruled Wipes - sanitizing Paper towels Kleenex Tissues Plastic Ziplock bags - Gallon, Quart sizes Backpacks   On June 14th, Happy Raptor will officially have been open four months. Our company is brand new and we've already seen unprecedented challenges knock at our door. The killing of George Floyd and repeated violence against the black community and people of color has impacted our country and each of us as individuals. Lately, our team has been doing a lot more listening than talking.
When it comes to rum - no matter how much we love it - the elephant in the room is the painful history of rum production and its origins, as well as the limitations and exclusivity around the craft alcohol industry towards minorities in general. Racism and prejudice hurt everyone. It restricts wealth and holds back entire communities until there's not enough common prosperity to support small businesses, leaving us all unable to reach our full potential. Happy Raptor's mission is to create premium infused rum inspired by our culture, our community, and the things that bring us joy. That cannot mean only the culture of our owners, and it cannot mean only the community that can afford premium rum. We are having hard internal conversations and asking ourselves: "What do we want this company to mean to people?" As we grow, we are going to get things wrong and make mistakes. We hope that with communication, education, and action, our friends and neighbors will find trust in our team to (1) make amazing rum and (2) provide a safe and happy space for our community. Since the beginning (four whole months ago), we have strictly enforced equal work for equal pay. We've dug in deep to help local nonprofits through donations, free access to our event space, and discounts everyday (not just during Covid). We are continuing our program to provide free 4oz. hand sanitizer to whomever needs it. We're laying down the building blocks to launch our first distilling internship, and basically doing our best to start off on the right foot and weave equity through the DNA fabric of our company. If we make a mistake, tell us. If you need something, ask us. Our customer base at Happy Raptor is beautifully diverse, and we want to keep it that way. |