By Raiza Giorgi

The noise sounded almost like a jackpot on a vintage slot machine when a three-foot tower of quarters was knocked into a wheelbarrow at the Figueroa Mountain Brewing pub in Los Olivos.

David Esdaile poses with Patti Mullins of the Tri-Counties Make-a-Wish Foundation at Figueroa Mountain Brewing’s pub in Los Olivos.

The Scane Tower of coins was named after Manager David Esdaile’s grandfather, George Scane.

“The idea came from my grandad, who owned a pub (called) The Duke of Cambridge in Lambeth, South London. He would stack pennies around the pole at the end of the bar and then donate the money to the local hospital,” Esdaile said.

Esdaile started his version of the tower 15 years ago when he worked at Firestone Walker Brewery, and he has donated to various charities such as cancer and spinal-column injury research. This year the money will go to Tri-Counties Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Esdaile does the stacking himself and dips each quarter in beer to help them stick. The tower takes about a year to build and usually holds about 10,000 quarters, which comes out to about $2,500.

“This is the first time we have received a donation like this, which I think is wonderful. The money will go towards kids here on the Central Coast that are suffering from different issues like cancer, and give them a ‘wish’ to look forward to,” said Pattie Mullins of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The foundation believes that a wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a critical illness by helping the child have a better attitude in the fight against disease.

“Each wish is so unique, and these children deserve every chance they can get. We do bedroom makeovers, go to a favorite sports team game, meet princesses and more. Seeing their faces light up when a wish is filled is the best,” Mullins said.

The next opportunity to participate in a Make-a-Wish event is at Cruzin’ for Life, an outdoor car show and auction dinner at the Santa Maria Fairpark on Sept. 21-22.

For details on that event or the Make-a-Wish Foundation, log onto www.tri-counties.wish.org.