Beam Suntory Donates $100,000 To Holiday Meals For The Military

The Operation Homefront program will assist more than 8,000 families this year

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Nov 20, 2017, 08:00 ET

CHICAGO, Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Beam Suntory, the world's third-largest premium spirits company, has donated $100,000 to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that builds strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive in the communities that they've worked so hard to protect. Since 2008, the world leader in bourbon has supported Operation Homefront, raising its total cash and in-kind contribution to more than $3.4 million. The funds will support Holiday Meals for Military, a program providing more than 8,400 family meals across the country this holiday season, run by Operation Homefront.

The Holiday Meals for Military program dates back to Thanksgiving 2009 at a supermarket in Utica, N.Y., near Fort Drum. A soldier, there with his wife and infant, had a handful of groceries they could not afford. A Beam Suntory employee in line behind them intervened and picked up the $12 cost, but was inspired to do much more.

"The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for military service men and women and we are proud to support those who defend our freedoms and their families, who are truly our nation's silent heroes," said Beam Suntory Chairman and CEO Matt Shattock. "It's been incredibly inspiring to see this program grow from that first donation to the distribution of thousands of meal kits today."

"The holiday season can be a very challenging time of the year for military families – particularly those who are on a very tight budget," said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront. "Our highly valued Holiday Meals for Military program has provided meals to more than 300,000 military family members over the past several years and I am proud to say Beam Suntory has been a driving force behind our important work. We are grateful to an amazing Beam team for all they do to help us help these deserving families thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect."

Beam Suntory employees are also volunteering to help pack meal kits across the country. Since Holiday Meals for Military's inception, Beam Suntory employees have volunteered thousands of hours to help pack and distribute family meals.

About Beam Suntory Inc.
As the world's third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher's, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Operation Homefront
Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive—not simply struggle to get by—in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America's military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.

SOURCE Beam Suntory