Jim Beam Introduces "Grand Salute" To Help Fans Give Thanks To Veterans

DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Veterans Day, Jim Beam is kicking off The Grand Salute, a digital program that allows fans aged 21 and older to join the Beam family in giving a virtual salute to America's servicemen and service women. Starting today, fans can learn the proper way to perform a military salute, submit a photo to www.JimBeamSalutes.com and share their patriotism among friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To encourage participation, Jim Beam will donate $25,000 to Operation Homefront's Holiday Meals for Military Program to make sure military families get to enjoy a holiday meal. The latest military support campaign from Jim Beam, The Grand Salute reflects the company's passion for uniting its fans in standing behind the individuals who fight for America's freedom.

"The Beam family is proud of our country's servicemen and service women, and this is our way of honoring our nation's heroes," said Fred Noe, Jim Beam's Seventh-Generation Master Distiller and great-grandson of Jim Beam. "With The Grand Salute program, we hope our fans will join us in extending a small gesture of appreciation and inspire others to support our heroes across the country this Veterans Day."

Jim Beam employees across the country have also taken part in this patriotic effort, honoring veterans by offering their own Grand Salutes on the website.

Operation Homefront Partnership

For the past five years, Jim Beam has partnered with Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency, financial, morale and other support to troops and their families while they serve and when they return home. Since 2008, the Beam family has helped raise funds and awareness for Operation Homefront through a number of national, regional and local philanthropic activations, resulting in nearly $1 million in cash and in-kind donations.

Jim Beam's History of Support

The Grand Salute program is the latest example of Jim Beam's ongoing support of U.S. troops and veterans, something that has run deep in the hearts and heritage of the Beam family for seven generations. Beam may not exist as a Kentucky distillery if it weren't for the land grant given to the Beam Family for their service during the Revolutionary War.

 Jim Beam's other military support efforts include:

• Live Music Series: For the past two years, Jim Beam's Live Music Series has continued its commitment to the troops in collaboration with musician, Kid Rock, donating more than $200,000 to the organization, a portion of which has been used to purchase musical instruments for soldiers both in the U.S. and overseas who have a passion for music.
• Salute Soldiers with the Spirit of America Program: In February 2010, Jim Beam launched a contest designed to honor America's military heroes with legendary experiences throughout the year, including VIP treatments at sporting and music events.
• Holiday Meals for Military: Since Thanksgiving 2009, Jim Beam has provided nearly 10,000 holiday meals to military families living on bases across the country, doubling the amount of meals given to military families each year.
• Back to School Backpack Drive: Jim Beam has also supported Operation Homefront's Illinois Chapter's Back to School Backpack Drive, providing school supplies for more than 500 local military families at the Great Lakes Naval Center.

To learn more and participate in The Grand Salute, visit www.Facebook.com/JimBeam, upload a photo on www.JimBeamSalutes.com or use #JimBeamSalutes to share a thank you salute via Twitter or Instagram.

For more information on Jim Beam and its involvement with Operation Homefront, please visit www.JimBeam.com/Operation-Homefront.

Jim Beam is committed to social responsibility and advises legal purchase age consumers to drink smart®. Through drinksmart.com, Beam Inc. educates legal purchase age consumers about how to make responsible choices about alcohol.

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, EFFEN Vodka, Pucker Flavored Vodka, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC, DeKuyper Cordials, and Skinnygirl Cocktails.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2011 sales of $2.8 billion, volume of 34 million 9-liter cases and some of the industry's fastest growing innovations. 

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Operation Homefront              

Operation Homefront^® provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and Wounded Warriors. A nonprofit 501(c)(3), Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence, and has taken care of more than 590,000 needs for military families since its inception in 2002.  Operation Homefront is a four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, and 94 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to support military families.  For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net.

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