BARDSTOWN, Ky. (November 14, 2023) – Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey announced today 15 recipients of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund grants. The 2023 Veteran Community Action Grants awarded $75,000 across projects that make a meaningful difference in the enjoyment and quality of life for veterans. From training service dogs to professional development, music therapy and medical care, each program supports giving back to those who served.
As an American-made and owned Bourbon, Evan Williams is proud to support U.S. military veterans through the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. First established in 2020, the fund continues the brand’s support of veteran communities since launching the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes program and limited-edition label in 2015. To date, Evan Williams has recognized 54 veteran heroes on its American Hero Edition bottles and donated $600,000 to nonprofits.
“The 2023 recipients of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund Grants are an incredible group of organizations who deserve to be recognized for their amazing work to help their fellow veterans,” said Molly Vincent, Evan Williams Senior Brand Manager. “We would like to commend these organizations and their leaders who selflessly give back to their communities and protect the American spirit of service.”
The 15 recipients of the 2023 Veteran Community Action Grants awarded by the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund are as follows:
AZIMUTH CHECK FOUNDATION: ACF helps injured veterans achieve wellness in an atmosphere of camaraderie by providing them with challenging and rewarding events, including hiking, mountaineering, deep sea fishing, rock climbing, snowshoe hiking, sporting events & tournaments, and more. Learn more at https://azimuthcheckfoundation.org/.
BATTLE DAWGS: Battle Dawgs offers a place for veterans to relax, reset, and refocus through outdoor rehabilitation, mentorship, and leadership programs. Learn more at https://www.battledawgs.org/.
EXTREME ADVENTURES, LLC: Extreme Adventures provides outdoor experiences for Veterans and their families with goal of enhancing their lives through recreational and social opportunities that reengage them with the activities they love and unite them with people who share similar backgrounds and experiences. Learn more at https://xtremeadventures.org/.
FINAL SALUTE, INC: Final Salute was founded in 2010 with the goal of providing homeless female veterans and their families with safe, suitable housing. Learn more at https://www.finalsaluteinc.org/Home.html.
HEROES ON THE WATER, NORTHWEST WASHINGTON CHAPTER: Heroes on the Water provides kayak fishing excursions to veterans, first-responders, active-duty military members and their families at no cost. These therapeutic events support America’s heroes and improve their quality of life. Learn more at https://heroesonthewater.org/.
HILLVETS FOUNDATION: HillVets serves Veterans and the Military-connected community in Washington, D.C. by providing opportunities for networking and second careers of service in government. Learn more at https://www.hillvets.org/.
INFINITE WISHES FOUNDATION: The mission of the Infinite Heroes program through Infinite Wishes Foundation is to provide experiences (“Gratitude Tours”) to active-duty military and veterans that have been combat-wounded and are permanently disabled, are mobility impaired, or have a service related life-threatening illness. Learn more at https://www.infinitewishes.org/infiniteheroes.
LITTLE BLESSINGS VETERAN AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Through the healing power of equine services, wellness programs, and community integration, Little Blessings helps veterans and their families successfully transition to civilian life. Learn more at https://lbveteranoutreach.org/.
NAVY SAFE HARBOR FOUNDATION: Navy Safe Harbor Foundation works with Navy Wounded Warrior to support wounded, ill, and injured Navy and Coast Guard Sailors, their families, and caregivers through financial assistance and non-medical care. Learn more at https://safeharborfoundation.org/.
REFOCUS-ON-U: Refocus-On-U offers programs designed to help veterans receive wholeness of the mind through learning how to manage relationships, increasing motivation, boosting creativity, living above loss, managing stress without distress, overcoming depression and anxiety, and achieving peak mental performance. Learn more at https://www.refocusonu.org/.
ROBIN’S HOME: Robin’s Home provides a full continuum of care for homeless, unstably housed and low-income female veterans and their children, through housing, case management, financial literacy, workforce development, and more. Learn more at https://robinshome.us/.
SHE’S THE VETERAN: Mental health in female veterans is under-researched, under-diagnosed, and under-treated. She’s the Veteran provides comprehensive support services for women who have served, improving their lives through activities, advocacy, and research. Learn more at https://shestheveteran.org/.
STAND WITH ME ASSISTANCE DOG TEAM TRAINING, INC: Stand With Me provides an intensive school for canines and their humans, allowing veterans with service-related mental health disabilities to train their own service dogs. Learn more at https://www.standwithmeorg.com/about-us.html.
WARRIOR MUSIC FOUNDATION, INC: Warrior Music Foundation provides an avenue for healing by offering free music therapy and lessons to active-duty military, veterans, and their families promoting learning and camaraderie along the way. Learn more at https://www.warriormusicfoundation.org/.
WARRIOR’S ART ROOM, INC: Warrior’s Art Room provides an inclusive space for veterans and their families to express themselves through a variety of mediums, engage in creative workshops, and build a community. Learn more at https://warriorsartroom.org/index.html.
As the second-largest selling Bourbon in the world, Evan Williams is proud of its American heritage and honored to broaden its support of veteran communities across the country. The 2024 class of Evan Williams American-Made Heroes will be selected from affiliate organizations who applied through the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund Grant process and will be announced in early May. To learn more about the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Program, please visit american-madeheroes.com.
ABOUT EVAN WILLIAMS: The flagship Bourbon of Heaven Hill Distillery, Evan Williams is among the leaders in the rapidly growing American Whiskey segment as the world’s second largest-selling Kentucky Bourbon. Evan Williams is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball and the World Series, first forming a partnership with the national pastime in 2016. As an American-made and American-owned brand, Evan Williams has recognized true American heroes through their exceptional stories of honor and bravery on special edition American-Made Hero labels for the past eight years, now supported by the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams through an immersive visitors center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN-MADE HEROES FOUNDATION FUND: Evan Williams is honored to broaden its support of veteran communities across the country through the launch of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund, announced in April 2020. The American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund was established to show Evan Williams’ pride in being American-made and owned, and to give back to those who served. Our purpose is: to provide a platform for sharing inspiring veteran stories; to raise public awareness for causes impacting the veteran community; and to support nonprofit organizations that help veterans through a specialized grant program.
Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kaitlynn West
Heaven Hill Brands
502-413-0230
kwest@heavenhill.com
