Brown-Forman pledges $1m to help communities during coronavirus crisis

Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman has donated US$1 million to support communities affected by the covid-19 pandemic.

US drinks firm Brown-Forman said it will assess community and industry needs as the group “identifies the best ways to support those impacted by covid-19”.

“As covid-19 has spread throughout the world, we want to provide assistance to our communities in this time of great need,” said Lawson Whiting, CEO of Brown-Forman.

“We are announcing today donations totalling US$1 million that will enable us to give back to the people and communities that mean so much to our company.”

Brown-Forman has contributed to the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Foundation Emergency Assistance Programme to help the hospitality sector.

Louisville-based Brown-Forman has also partnered with the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation to support their Covid-19 Crisis Relief Fund. The US producer is encouraging people to make a donation to the foundation, which Brown-Forman will match up to US$100,000. Donations can be made at https://bit.ly/RWCFReliefFund.

In addition, Brown-Forman has made a donation to the One Louisville Covid-19 Response Fund, which will “rapidly” deploy resources and financial assistance to households, businesses, and community-based organisations working on the frontlines of the outbreak in the city.

The US firm will also “actively” look at additional ways to expand its reach and donations globally.

A number of drinks producers, including Beam Suntory and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, have also made huge donations to charities supporting on-trade members affected by coronavirus.