Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund Announces 2024 Grant Recipients

Veteran Community Action Grants award $75,000 to nonprofits which serve the veteran community

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (November 11, 2024) – In honor of Veteran’s Day, Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey announced today 15 recipients of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund grants. The 2024 Veteran Community Action Grants awarded $75,000 across projects which make a meaningful difference in the enjoyment and quality of life for veterans across America. From training service dogs to mental health care and adaptive sports, 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 60 veteran heroes on its American Hero Edition bottles and donated $675,000 to nonprofits. 

“The 2024 recipients of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund Grants are an incredible group of organizations who deserved 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.”

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 2025 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. 

The 15 recipients of the 2024 Veteran Community Action Grants awarded by the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund are as follows:

DELAWARE COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION: The Delaware County Veteran Memorial Association provides a monument to local service members where they’ll never be forgotten, as well as a place for the community to reflect on, learn about, and celebrate the dedication of these veterans. Learn more at https://delcoveteransmemorial.org. 

GOLD STAR MISSION: The Gold Star Mission is a nonprofit organization that seeks to honor and support Gold Star families by preserving the memory of our fallen heroes through service to others in need. Learn more athttps://goldstarmission.org/.

HERO LABRADORS: Service dogs provide immeasurable medical assistance and companionship to veterans. To make this possible for more service members, Hero Labradors provides purpose-bred Labrador Retriever puppies to service dog training programs at no cost. Learn more at www.herolabradors.org.

KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD MEMORIAL FUND, INC.: The Kentucky National Guard Memorial provides a sacred space for families, friends, and citizens to remember, honor, and learn about the sacrifices of local veterans. Here, past and present citizen soldiers are memorialized for their dedicated service. Learn more at www.kyngmemorial.org.

NEW HOPE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY: New Hope’s ‘Horses Helping Heroes’ program offers a progressive therapeutic horsemanship program for military personnel, veterans, and first responders, especially those experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Learn more at https://newhopeequine.com.   

P.A.W.S.S. (Pups And Warriors Side by Side): P.A.W.S.S. helps disabled veterans, first responders, and qualifying family members train their own dog to become their service dog at no cost to them.  Learn more at https://www.pupsandwarriors.org/.

RANGE FORE HOPE FOUNDATION: Range Fore Hope Foundation promotes golf as a therapeutic resource to improve veterans’ physical, mental, and social well-being, reducing the effects of PTSD and fostering a community environment where service members can heal together. Learn more at www.rangeforehope.org. 

SOUTHERN ARIZONA ADAPTIVE SPORTS: Through its VeloVets program, Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports empowers Veterans with disabilities to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of cycling, providing free supported group rides on adaptive bikes including handcycles, recumbent trikes, and side-by-side tandems to Veterans with limb loss, paralysis, visual impairment, or other disabilities. Learn more at www.soazadaptivesports.org. 

THE JOYFUL HORSE PROJECT: At its Restoration Ranch, The Joyful Horse Project provides a safe haven for equine learning and development that nurtures the well-being of veteran families through the gift of the horse. Learn more at www.restorationranch.org.

THE KAUFMAN FUND: The Kaufman Fund aids veterans with life’s basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and more. Learn more at www.thekaufmanfund.org. 

VETCARES, INC.: The readjustment to civilian life can be difficult, and VETCares provides assistance to make this process smoother. Through therapy programs, financial aid, and more, veterans are given resources to help them build a successful, stable future. Learn more at www.vetcares.org/cc.

WARRIORS FOR FREEDOM FOUNDATION: Mental health is a critical issue for veterans. The Warriors For Freedom Foundation offers programs, resources, and services to restore hope, renew purpose, and revitalize veterans through camaraderie and mental health healing. Learn more at https://www.warriorsforfreedom.org/.

WHISTLEBLOWERS OF AMERICA: Whistleblowers of America specializes in assisting disadvantaged veterans gain access to social services in underserved communities. WoA educates veterans about the benefits available to them and guides them through the application processes. Learn more at https://www.whistleblowersofamerica.org/home. 

WISCONSIN VETERANS NETWORK/VETSNET: At no cost to the veteran or veteran family member, VetsNet solves short-term crises and address long-term challenges related to stable shelter, access to food, benefits enrollment, physical health, mental wellness and more for veterans and their families. Learn more at www.wisvetsnet.org.

BOUNTIFUL AMERICAN FOUNDATION INC./AMERICAN MOBILITY PROJECT: The American Mobility Project seeks to provide mobility and adaptive equipment and resources to veterans living with disabilities from injuries sustained in combat. Learn more at https://americanmobilityproject.org  

ABOUT EVAN WILLIAMS: The flagship Bourbon of Heaven Hill Distillery, Evan Williams is among the leaders in the American Whiskey segment as the world’s second largest-selling Bourbon. In 1783, the brand’s namesake opened Kentucky’s First Distillery on the banks of the Ohio River. Many years and barrels later, Evan Williams Bourbon is still produced the right way, using the same time-honored methods. 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 nine years, now supported by the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. In 2024, the brand debuted ‘Evan Williams Bourbon Nation’ to celebrate college athletics through a partnership with Learfield making Kentucky’s 1^st Distiller Game Day’s #1 Pour. The multi-year deal currently includes powerhouse teams at University of Florida, Syracuse University, TCU, Ohio State University and University of Alabama. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Learn more at www.EvanWilliams.com. 

Heaven Hill reminds everyone to think wisely, drink wisely®.

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