” where “donations will go to tax exempt organizations that directly assist service industry members including the USBG Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.” Nearly $150,000 has been tipped so far.
And clearly, the list goes on: Beam Suntory—the American arm of the Japanese spirits giants Suntory which makes a laundry list of brands including Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark—along with their distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, pledged $1 million to the United States Bartenders' Guild Foundation Emergency Assistance Program and the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. spirits industry as a whole is helping out, too. On Monday, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States announced that its members were donating more than $8.37 million to the U.S. Bartenders Guild Foundation and other charities, collectively. That list includes Agave Loco, Bacardi U.S.A.
“Across the country, restaurants and bars have closed or moved to take-out only, leaving many hospitality industry employees out of work and worried about how they are going to pay their bills and provide for their families. Through these donations, we are mobilizing to get the money directly into the hands of those who need it most,” Chris Swonger, president and CEO of DISCUS, said in the announcement.
VancityReynolds (AviationGin owner) & blakelively have also personally donated $1m to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada in addition to the Bartender Initiative. ❤️
Some are even diverting production to make sanitizers for the front line workers .