Diageo Announces Contributions to Military Charities through its Diageo Salutes the Troops Initiative

iPads for Soldiers, Packages From Home and NORC at the University of Chicago Receive $200,000 in Grants to Further Their Efforts in Support of the Troops

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Diageo

May 15, 2013, 09:00 ET

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, as part of its Diageo Salutes the Troops initiative, today announced that it has contributed $200,000 to three organizations dedicated to supporting our military troops both at home and abroad: iPads for Soldiers, Packages From Home and the independent research organization NORC at the University of Chicago. This marks the latest effort in the company's ongoing commitment to support veterans and active duty military through brand promotions for military families, employee volunteerism and financial contributions to military nonprofits.

Over the past year, Diageo has provided iPads for Soldiers, NORC at the University of Chicago and Packages From Home with grants that were used to equip soldiers and veterans with much-needed resources, including iPads so soldiers can talk face-to-face with their children and spouses while in the field, and home comforts like beef jerky, extra toilet paper, and playing cards. Diageo has also funded NORC's development of a program to train military health personnel to conduct alcohol screenings and brief interventions for soldiers and veterans as needed.

Moving forward, Diageo will expand its Diageo Salutes the Troops program to include additional military-connected initiatives that will provide backing to the brave men and women who serve the United States. These programs will vary from driving more volunteer efforts to offering additional grants to worthy charities to funding research that will support veterans. Programs that will reward and pamper military spouses and families will become expanded while there will be a renewed focus on seeking out new nonprofits that will benefit military personnel.

"The Diageo Salutes the Troops initiative is an extension of the work we do to provide humanitarian relief across the country and around the world," said Marc Strachan, vice president, multicultural marketing, Diageo North America. "At Diageo, we believe in giving back to the communities where we do business – and the U.S. Military is a very important community for us and for all Americans. Our aim is to support our veterans and active duty military in ways that make a direct and meaningful impact on their own and their family's lives. Working with these three admirable organizations has been a strong start. In the coming months, we pledge to continue supporting these programs while developing additional initiatives that will benefit the military channel."

Following is some more information on the three organizations partnering with Diageo to make a difference in the lives of veterans and active duty personnel:

iPads for Soldiers – donates thousands of iPads each year to soldiers in battle and wounded warriors.
Packages from Home – creates care packages including food, personal care and recreational items that are sent to American troops.
NORC at the University of Chicago - an independent research organization based at the University of Chicago that is developing a Department of Defense alcohol screening and brief intervention system that will be implemented in all military health clinics worldwide by the end of 2014.

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray, Guinness, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards Wines.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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About iPads for Soldiers
iPads for Soldiers is the charitable fund-raising operation of The C.H.R.I.S. Foundation, collecting donations to purchase iPads for US soldiers serving in Afghanistan. In 2010, founder Winnie Pritchett, whose son Wes was serving in Afghanistan, realized the needs of troops risking their lives far away from their homes and loved ones. Recognizing that those serving in the more remote regions have no TV or cell phone, and no way to carry heavy books or computers in their 110‑lb rucksacks, she decided to do something about it. Since then, more than 2,500 iPads have been donated to deserving heroes. For more information, you can visit: http://www.ipadsforsoldiers.org

About Packages From Home
Packages From Home is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to send care and comfort packages to deployed American military heroes who are stationed in active duty theaters around the world, as well as to facilitate activities that elevate morale of all veterans. Packages From Home was founded in 2004 by Kathleen Lewis as a labor of love for her deployed son. The organization has sent more than 130,000 care packages to deployed troops overseas since its inception. You can make a donation and learn more about Packages From Home by calling the Packages From Home Administrative Office at 602.253.0284 or online at http://www.PackagesFromHome.org

About NORC at the University of Chicago
NORC at the University of Chicago is an independent research organization headquartered in downtown Chicago with additional offices in the University of Chicago campus, the D.C. Metro area, Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco. NORC also supports a nationwide field staff as well as international research operations. With clients throughout the world, NORC collaborates with government agencies, foundations, education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to provide data and analysis that support informed decision making in key areas including health, education, crime, justice, energy, security and the environment. NORC's more than 70 years of leadership and experience in data collection, analysis, and dissemination—coupled with deep subject matter expertise—provides the foundation for effective solutions to issues confronting society. For additional information please visit www.norc.org

Contact:

Alix Dunn
Diageo
[email protected]
(203) 229-4744

Meghan Callaghan
Taylor
[email protected]
(212) 714-5714

SOURCE Diageo