When Jacquie Berglund walks into a room, people take notice. Her energy abounds and her smile is contagious. She’ll even admit to hugging just about everyone, from her vice president of marketing to the people at her public relations and advertising firms.

She has spent the last ten years using that vigor to tirelessly build the highly successful FINNEGANS Irish Amber, the only beer company in the world that sends 100 percent of its profits to charity.

Ten years ago, Berglund funneled her aforementioned passion into starting FINNEGANS. While she’ll admit that running a beer company wasn’t how she envisioned her dream job, she knew her life’s work would be in the nonprofit world.

“It’s kind of a funny thing,” said co-founder and CEO Berglund. “I knew I wanted to make a difference in my local community, I just never thought it would be running a beer company. But, ten years later, here we are. I like to think of us as the little beer company that could.”

2010 marks FINNEGANS’ tenth year in business (a “Finntennial” as Berglund puts it), with more than $160,000 dollars donated to charities in the communities where FINNEGANS is sold (currently Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin). Those charities, in turn, use the grants received from FINNEGANS to further their missions, which usually include fighting to end poverty and homelessness.

Recently, FINNEGANS has partnered with Green Mill Restaurants to launch a charitable gambling program at its St. Paul and Eagan locations, with proceeds from the events funneling straight into the FINNEGANS Community Fund. Berglund hopes to expand this pilot program into more Green Mill locations and says the potential to raise money for the community fund is, “huge.”

Saying ‘Thank You’

Berglund has more than a few pints to raise after ten years in business. While she is one of only a few paid staff, her team of hundreds of active volunteers, as well as pro-bono partners, is who she credits with FINNEGANS continued success.

“Over the last ten years, our volunteer team has logged over 25,000 hours planning events, pouring beers and doing everything from marketing to sales to operations,” she said. “Without them, FINNEGANS would not be where it is today.”