Every year, Heaven Hill employees are invited to submit a charity to be considered for the Annual Philanthropy Project. It is a company priority that the funds raised benefit organizations in communities where many Heaven Hill employees work and live. For the first time, this year the company hosted two separate projects – a corporate project supporting an organization in Kentucky and a Black Velvet project supporting an organization in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Despite challenges and adjustments to the program, the 2021 Annual Philanthropy project experienced yet another fruitful year with powerful results, raising over $17K between the two projects.

Corporate Project – New Roots

This year’s corporate project recipient, New Roots, was nominated by Heaven Hill Quality Specialist Abby Long, who is based at the Bernheim Distillery in West Louisville. Through several fundraising initiatives between September and December of 2021, Heaven Hill employees worked together to raise funds which were then matched at $5,000 by the company for a grand total of $10,793.50.

Abby recognized the important impact this nonprofit makes by providing access to fresh, organic foods to all income brackets.

“As a long-time volunteer with New Roots, I’ve seen firsthand the impact their initiatives have to provide fresh food to some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods in and around Louisville,” said Long. “I’m humbled my fellow employees supported this philanthropy project to provide more opportunity for New Roots to expand their mission.”

New Roots makes fresh food available for all through the Fresh Stop Markets – farm-fresh food markets located in fresh food-insecure neighborhoods. The markets are active every two weeks from June through November at local churches, business, and community centers. There are currently eight Fresh Stop Markets that operate under New Roots’ umbrella: seven in Metro Louisville, one in Southern Indiana, and an independent Fresh Stop Market in Hazard, KY.

“We are thrilled to receive this donation from Heaven Hill employees and look forward to investing this back into our communities to expand fresh food opportunities,” said Travis Brown, New Roots Operations Manager. “With the support of our partners, we are able to provide organic produce through our innovate share model, support local farmers, and create better health outcomes for our neighbors.”

Black Velvet Project – MyCityCare

This year, Heaven Hill was proud to host a dedicated project in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada benefiting MyCityCare. This organization was submitted by two Black Velvet employees who wished to remain anonymous. Through two fundraising initiatives between September and December of 2021, Black Velvet employees worked together to raise funds, which were then matched by the company for a grand total of $6,980.

MyCityCare is a program based out of MyVictory Church Lethbridge that supports the local community with initiatives throughout the year, such as emergency food hampers, clothing hampers, Stuff the Bus, Shop of Wonders, Street Store events, Baby Boxes (safe infant sleep spaces) and baby hampers.

Past recipients of this donation have included The Food Literacy Project, Feeding America, Portland Elementary School, Flaget Memorial Hospital’s Project Hope, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Coalition for the Homeless. This is the sixth year for the company’s fundraising project and one of many ways that Heaven Hill and their employees contribute to their communities year-round.​​​​​​​

We want to thank the entire Heaven Hill family for their continued support of the Annual Philanthropy Project, especially during such a difficult time. The monies raised would not have been possible without the contributions of so many Heaven Hill employees.