At Heaven Hill our charitable giving corporate mission is to improve the local communities in which our employees work and live, offering charitable support for education, cultural enrichment and health and well-being.

One important way our Heaven Hill family lives this mission is through personal service to our communities. Today we will highlight just a few of the ways and places our employees volunteer and serve.

If you volunteer in your community, please email details to [email protected] so Heaven Hill can support your efforts.

Distilled Spirits Industry

For the past six years, Senior Manager, Corporate Events and Sponsorships Melissa Horton has served as the appointed representative of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board of Directors – as chairman and currently as vice-chair.

“I was born and raised in Bardstown. Bourbon is in my DNA,” Melissa said. “I take so much pride in promoting and representing Heaven Hill and other Kentucky distilleries’ voices for the festival.”

The festival’s mission is to promote Kentucky Bourbon and the Bourbon Capital of the World® by hosting a celebration that contributes to the economic and cultural vitality of our communities in Bardstown.

Vice President and General Manager Claude Bilodeau also serves in our industry as a director on the board of Spirits Canada, the trade association for spirits manufacturers in Canada.

Children’s Outreach​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​With two kids of her own, Group Product Director Hannah Venhoff’s drive to support an organization that seeks to provide hands-on activities and learning opportunities through play led her to become a Louisville Children’s Museum Board Member.

“Louisville is a fantastic, growing city, but access to hands-on learning and play for children has been limited to only a handful of very specialized museums and attractions,” said Hannah, who has served on the organization’s board for over four years. “In addition, the communities these organizations serve have been somewhat limited due to their location, cost of entry, availability to schools and educational focus areas.”

“In addition, the communities these organizations serve have been somewhat limited due to their location, cost of entry, availability to schools and educational focus areas.”

Louisville Children’s Museum is currently fulfilling its mission through a mobile museum that serves schools within the city and surrounding areas.

For Retail Chain Execution Manager Denell Cornelius, volunteer work with Girl Scouts of America is a way to nurture her passion for empowering young girls.

“I am passionate about this organization, because I went through all the stages of Girl Scouts as a young girl, earning one of the highest awards – the Gold Award,” said Denell, who currently serves as a Leader for her daughter’s Cadette Troop. “Now having a young daughter of my own, I wanted to experience that journey with her and also give back to this community.”

“Now having a young daughter of my own, I wanted to experience that journey with her and also give back to this community.”

Denell said she loves all the tools and experiences that Girl Scouts of America has to offer for young girls. “Girl Scouts helps prepare for a lifetime of leadership, success, adventure and fun for girls,” she said.

Sports​​​​​​​

Jacob Sabel, Division Manager – Control, has served in the past with JCC Macabi Games®, an Olympic-style sporting competition held each summer for Jewish teenagers.

“I was raised by the principle of putting others before yourself,” said Jacob. “Whether monetary, time or knowledge, the best gift in my mind is the act of giving.”

While Jacob isn’t currently serving on any boards, he said volunteering has always played an important role in his life. “The opportunity to effect change and build my network with a diverse group of like-minded individuals is what draws me,” he said.

Arts & Culture

​​​​​​​The mission of the Speed Art Museum in Louisville is inviting everyone to celebrate art forever. Chief Information Officer Alan Kamei has been serving that mission for over six years as a member of the Board of Trustees – including two years as Board Treasurer.

“I appreciate the mission of the Speed with its focus on art for everyone, helping identify and demonstrate how the arts supports improved quality of life and acting as a generator of dialogue throughout our diverse communities,” Alan said.

Alan said he also tries to support at least one exhibition a year that has community relevance. “Over the past couple of years, we sponsored an installation about immigration called the American Library, as well as helping to fund a large-scale Naturalization ceremony at the museum in association with this exhibit,” he said. “Last year we sponsored an installation of art associated with the Civil Rights movement.”

Neighborhoods & Communities

​​​​​​​Abby Long serves as secretary of the Shelby Park Neighborhood Association in Louisville, supporting and improving the community.

“As the secretary of SNPA, I am responsible for organizing the monthly, virtual meeting and retaining meeting notes,” said Abby, Distillery QC Specialist. “In 2020 we organized multiple neighborhood-wide clean-up days and had a socially-distant pumpkin patch in Shelby Park this past fall.”

The neighborhood association is focused on making sure people in the community have everything they need. “If someone is struggling, we find resources through the city or another nonprofit,” she added.

Abby also delivered groceries as part of Feed the West and Louisville Community Grocery and before the pandemic, she answered phones at Louisville Public Media for their fundraising drives and passed out produce bags to Fresh Stop shareholders at their Smoketown/Shelby Park location.

Meanwhile Victoria Clark is active in Bardstown, where she volunteers for shelter program Room in the Inn and the local Rotary Club. Room at the Inn is a program that works with local congregations, which open their doors for the homeless.

“There is a desperate need for people my age to step up and help in our community,” said Victoria, Customer Service Supervisor. “Right now, we have very little, if not any, help from my generation. If we do not help with these organizations, our fear is that we will no longer be able to keep them up and running.”

In Lethbridge, Canada, Administrative Assistant Leslie Cooper gives her time to a local Soup Kitchen as part of a care group from her church. “The soup kitchen was looking for groups of people who would make breakfast one morning a month,” Leslie said. “It seems so many people are afraid of people who live on the streets.”

Leslie, who thanked the Plant Manager for giving her time away from work to commit to the soup kitchen, said her volunteering experience has been very positive. “I hope to be more available and involved in the future,” she said.

Nature

In addition to his work at the Speed Museum, Alan Kamei has served on the Bernheim Forest Board of Trustees since 2020.

“Bernheim’s role in supporting research and stewardship of our natural resources and in making green space available for everyone’s enjoyment also resonates strongly with my interests in improving our community’s health and wellness and in preserving the natural beauty of the Commonwealth,” said Alan.

Victim Services

Claude Bilodeau volunteers with the Lethbridge Police Victim Services Unit, which assists victims of crime within the community. As a volunteer, he is a first responder who provides practical support during the during the first few critical hours after a crime or tragedy.

The unit also serves as a central information point for people who have been victimized, providing updates on the status of an investigation or court case, as well as information about victim impact statements, requests for restitution, provincial financial benefits and referrals to counselling services, shelters, child protection and crisis lines.

“Since being purchased by Heaven Hill, I’ve really reflected on how fortunate I am as an individual and how, through COVID, I have been able to continue to provide for my family without disruption,” Claude said. “This had definitely not been the case for so many, and the negative highlights in the news on the impact COVID had had on increased domestic violence, suicides and overall crime, made this the right choice for me.”

Animals

For Jean Michalak, her family’s interests have driven her involvement in a range of volunteer activities, including Saving Sunny Inc.’s Community Dog Resource Center (CDRC) in Louisville, where she has volunteered for several years.

“The CDRC’s judgment-free assistance focuses on the zip codes in Louisville with the highest intake of homeless animals,” said Jean, Sales Manager, Heaven Hill Visitor Experience. “They provide free food, spay/neuter services, pet identification, flea and tick prevention and more.”

The goal, Jean said, is to keep animals from going into shelters. Because of her involvement and a history of fostering dogs, Jean said she was known as “Mama Jean” and a go-to person for pit bull behavior and training.

She is now also jumping feet first with another organization called Alley Cat Advocates, which helps control overpopulation through spay/neuter initiatives, keeping community cats healthy with medical care and vaccinations.

Advocacy​​​​​​​

In addition to Jean’s work caring for animals, she and her husband Dan are also involved with causes supporting the Down Syndrome community.

“Dan’s life has been shaped by what he’s always called the gift of Down Syndrome,” Jean said. “He was raised in a big family, and everyone’s favorite was Uncle Ray, who was born with DS.”

Years later, their niece Elena – who also has Down Syndrome – spurred them toward more involvement. “Elena has Down Syndrome, but she was so different,” Jean said. “She just needed the freedom to reach milestones in her own time and to be treated as an individual.”

On Elena’s first birthday, Dan’s family launched a charity called Angels in Disguise, which helps fund adoptions of children born with DS.

For other team members looking for a place to make an impact, Jean advises, “Figure out what you can do, and do it. It’s just that simple. Listen to that calling, and spend a little time or talent. It can make a huge difference for those who need it.”