Jack Daniel's and ASYMCA Kick Off Fifth Year of "Operation Ride Home" on Veterans Day
Campaign Helps Junior-Enlisted Service Members and Families Travel From Bases to Homes Across Country This Holiday Season
LYNCHBURG, Tenn., November 12, 2015 /3BL Media/ – The Jack Daniel Distillery and Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) today announced the fifth year of its “Operation Ride Home” (ORH) campaign that assists junior-enlisted service members and their families travel from military bases to homes across the country this holiday season.
Through ORH, 1,557 single service members and those with families – for a total of 3,549 individuals – have been given the gift of home the last four years. Troops from every branch of service have been assisted and travelled to 47 of the 50 states.
Working with the various military commands, the ASYMCA helps identify and prioritize those junior-enlisted service members and families most in financial need. Vouchers are provided for plane tickets and pre-paid debit cards are given to assist those who are driving. The famed distillery has once again donated $100,000 to kick off the campaign, and is asking friends to visit www.jdoperationridehome.com if they’d like to contribute to the effort. All donations are 100 percent tax deductible.
“All of us here at the distillery fully support our military and thank all of those heroes who have served in uniform and sacrificed so much for our freedoms,” said Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “Operation Ride Home has truly been transformational in the lives of so many of our service members and their families, and we hope all of our friends will join with us this year so even more of them can spend the holidays with their families.”
“The Armed Services YMCA is proud to be partnering with Jack Daniel’s on Operation Ride Home,” said William French, ASYMCA President and CEO. “I share Jeff Arnett’s hope that more will join in supporting this important program bringing the joy of the holiday season to so many of our heroes and their families.”
ORH is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, who might not otherwise financially be able to travel home for the holidays. The option to drive or fly is an individual decision. Plane ticket vouchers are limited to $400 per person flying and for those choosing to drive, the pre-paid debit cards are $100 per family member for gas, lodging and food. For additional information on eligibility and participating installations, please visit https://www.asymca.org/programs/operation-ride-home/.
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About Jack Daniel’s
Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails.
Celebrate Joyfully. Drink Responsibly.
About the Armed Services YMCA
The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) is a nonprofit organization which has been dedicated to making military life easier for more than 150 years. Impacting over 500,000 families annually, the ASYMCA offers low and no cost programs through 200 service centers at 32 branch and affiliate locations serving 45 of the largest military installations nationwide. Of the 1.2M active duty military stationed in the US, approximately 82% are located where the ASYMCA has a branch or affiliate nearby to help make military life easier. The ASYMCA does not receive government funding, and does not charge dues or membership fees for their programs. .Eighty-nine cents of every dollar donated goes directly to support programs. In 2013 the ASYMCA was designated as a top-rated charity by CharityWatch and for the 8th consecutive year received the highest (4-star) rating from Charity Navigator. Your tax deductible donation (Tax ID #36-3274346) to the ASYMCA will make a significant impact on the lives of junior enlisted service members and their families. Please visit asymca.org to learn more.
