Cruzan donates US$500k to US Virgin Islands hurricane relief

Beam Suntory-owned Cruzan Rum Distillery has donated US$500,000 to support relief and recovery efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma on its home territory of the US Virgin Islands.

Cruzan Rum’s home territory of the US Virgin Islands has been battered by Hurricane Irma

Earlier this month, parent company Suntory Holdings donated US$1 million to support the American Red Cross in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. This latest donation by Cruzan Rum takes the total hurricane relief contribution by Suntory Holdings and Beam Suntory to US$1.6 million.

Cruzan Rum Distillery is based on the island of St Croix in the US Virgin Islands territory, which now braces for Hurricane Maria

“My family has been producing Cruzan Rum in the US Virgin Islands for generations, and we’re determined to help our friends and neighbours whose lives have been upended by this devastating hurricane,” said Gary Nelthropp, president and master distiller of Cruzan Rum.

“While St Croix was spared the worst of Irma’s wrath, our sister islands of St Thomas and St John took a hard hit.

“We’re inspired by the way Virgin Islanders have come together, including how former NBA star and St Croix native Tim Duncan has helped raise awareness and millions of dollars for the needs of the USVI’s people, how governor Mapp has urgently mobilised the territory’s resources, how the administration and congresswoman Stacey Plaskett have led from Washington.

“As the USVI now braces for Hurricane Maria, we hope our support will inspire others to help, as well.”

Cruzan Rum’s US$500,000 donation will go to the Fund for the Virgin Islands, which was established 25 years ago.