MIAMI & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer's)—the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol—today announced the recipient of its 2020 VolunCheer of the Year Award, Gena Fogarty, Team Member Events & Communications Manager for Southern Glazer’s in Las Vegas, NV. VolunCheers is Southern Glazer’s grassroots employee volunteering and giving program that empowers team members to engage with charities in their local communities. These efforts are managed through the Company’s enterprise-wide internal digital portal, VolunCheers Online, where employees can connect with each other, organize and promote volunteering and giving activities.
For the annual VolunCheer of the Year program, employees voted from among a group of 2020 VolunCheer of the Month winners to determine who would be selected to receive a prize of $5,000 to the charity of the winner’s choice. Fogarty, who received the special distinction for her efforts to provide oral healthcare to vulnerable children in her community, selected Future Smiles to be the recipient of Southern Glazer’s $5,000 donation.
In 2020, Fogarty successfully spearheaded a volunteer event benefiting Future Smiles in honor of National Children’s Dental Hygiene Month, resulting in hundreds of “Smile Bags” filled with essential dental hygiene supplies for local children.
“Preventative care and oral hygiene education for kids is needed now more than ever,” said Fogarty. “With the shutdown of Nevada schools due to COVID-19, students have not been receiving these services. In recent months, there has been an increase in root canals due to poor nutrition and lack of continuing oral hygiene education. This $5,000 donation will help local kids receive the dental care needed to live happy, healthy lives with a confident smile.”
Southern Glazer’s also rounded out 2020 with its annual Holiday Giving Campaign, during which the Company pledged to donate $25 to Meals on Wheels, the winner of its employee vote, for every volunteer hour logged on VolunCheers Online throughout November and December.
Employees came together to log an incredible 2,210 volunteer hours on VolunCheers Online during the holiday season, resulting in a $55,250 donation to keep isolated seniors safe and nourished. Southern Glazer’s also donated $10,000 to God’s Love We Deliver, an organization that provides medically tailored meals to those who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves.
Despite a number of unique challenges faced in 2020, Southern Glazer’s employees completed almost 12,000 volunteer hours and donated $156,820 to hundreds of diverse charities.
About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.
