Jack Daniel’s & ASYMCA Get Veterans Home For The Holidays

How has Jack Daniel's helped over 14,000 military families celebrate the holidays together? Discover the 15-year journey of Operation Ride Home's heartwarming impact.
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Jack Daniel's & ASYMCA Get Veterans Home For The Holidays

Jack Daniel’s and the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) have launched the 15th anniversary of Operation Ride Home, a program helping junior-enlisted service members travel home for the holidays. The Tennessee whiskey distillery increased its annual kick-off donation to $150,000 this year, marking a milestone for the initiative that has reunited 14,361 military personnel with their families since 2011.

The partnership has raised more than $3.5 million to date through contributions from Jack Daniel’s, its business partners, and public donations.

“Operation Ride Home has changed so many lives over the years, and it’s an honor and privilege for us to kick off a landmark year assisting these heroes and their families,” said Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller at Jack Daniel’s.

“Everyone deserves to be home with their loved ones to celebrate the joy of this special season, and we’ll be doing all we can with our partners at the ASYMCA to help make that happen for those who have given so much.”

The program provides financial assistance through airline tickets and pre-paid debit cards for active-duty military personnel ranked E-5 and below who cannot afford holiday travel.

Service members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard have traveled to all 50 states through the program.

“Thanks to Jack Daniel’s, countless military families will be reunited this holiday season,” said Vice Admiral William French, USN (Ret.), President and Chief Executive Officer of ASYMCA.

“Their partnership makes it possible for service members – many of whom might otherwise spend the holidays alone – to be surrounded with loved ones. We’re honored to stand alongside Jack Daniel’s and make these moments possible for the past 15 years.”

The ASYMCA coordinates with military commands at participating installations to identify and prioritize service members most in financial need.

Founded in 1861, the ASYMCA is the oldest military support organization in the United States, serving 89 military installations across the country through 12 branches and 24 affiliate partners.

Those interested in supporting Operation Ride Home can visit operationridehome.com to contribute to the cause.

Beth Squires

Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash with over half a decade of industry experience. She possesses comprehensive knowledge of the global whisky landscape, spanning everything from heritage and production to complex market analysis. A graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme, which champions women in whisky, Beth is a dedicated advocate for diversity and sustainability, focused on highlighting the innovation and storytelling that define the modern whisky industry.

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