Brewery to hold benefit auction

The Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington is hosting a benefit auction today to help pay for the recovery of associate chef Fred Newell. \nNewell, who began working for Upland over the summer, was hit Nov. 2 by a drunk driver whose blood-alcohol level was 0.24 at the scene. Newell sustained numerous injuries, including two skull fractures, hemorrhaging of the brain and a broken collarbone, according to the company's Web site.\nAfter being rushed to the Bloomington Hospital, where he remained in the critical-care ward for more than two weeks, he was released to go home. \nNewell is still unable to walk on his own and must use a wheelchair to get around, restaurant manager Ryan Harvey said.\nHarvey hopes the auction will raise money to help cover the cost of Newell's living expenses.\n"His medical bills will be covered by insurance, but living expenses really add up," Harvey said. "He does live alone, so it can be really expensive to hire nurses."\nThe auction will feature items such as restaurant gift certificates, which were donated by local businesses, tickets to shows at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, and a set of Pacers tickets, said Laura Cullison, administrative assistant for the brewery.\nWhile Cullison doesn't know how much money the auction will raise, she said she expects a decent turnout. To publicize the event, the company sent e-mails to regular customers and local businesses. \nUpland is not only relying on the auction to bring in money for Newell. Along with Irwin National Bank, the company created a charitable fund in Newell's name and agreed to match 100 percent of all donations received, according to a press release. So far, more than $1,400 has been donated by various individuals and businesses within the community.\nThe Upland Brewing Company also donates a portion of its restaurant sales it takes in Thursdays between 6 and 8 p.m. to the Fred Newell Fund.\nA longtime Bloomington resident, Newell has been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years. According to Upland's Web site, www.uplandbeer.com, Newell has worked at several restaurants in Bloomington, including the Limestone Grill, Puccini's and the American Legion.\nIn his spare time, Newell volunteered regularly at Community Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides food for the less fortunate.\nWhen Newell found out what Upland Brewery was doing for him, he was surprised and happy, Harvey said.\n"He was really overwhelmed when he heard about it," Harvey said. "He told me no one's ever done anything like this for him before."\nThe benefit auction is today at 7:30 p.m. at the Upland Brewing Company, 350 W. 11th St.