Early Times® Kentucky Whisky Raises Awareness and Support for Veterans Suffering from Military Service Trauma with Film Documentary
“Reinforcements” Delivers Transformational Journey of Veterans Battling
PTSD
LOUISVILLE, Ky.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–“Life after combat isn’t easy, but it can still be really good” is one
message the new documentary “Reinforcements” delivers to U.S. military
veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The short
film, which debuted tonight at a private screening in Louisville, aims
to raise awareness and provide life-saving service dogs to veterans who
return from combat to find they face a new battle against PTSD. The film
was produced by Early Times® Kentucky Whisky in partnership
with K9s For Warriors, a non-profit organization committed to training
service canines for veterans suffering from trauma resulting from
military service.
“Reinforcements” follows the transformational journey of Travis Davis –
a retired Army Corporal struggling with PTSD – as he adjusts to civilian
life with the help of Joe Swoboda – a retired Army Sergeant First Class
– and his service dog companion, Lilly.
“So many veterans don’t know there is a tremendous support network
available to them after they return from service through organizations
like K9s For Warriors,” said Swoboda. “It’s been such a privilege to
share my story through this film, and I hope that ‘Reinforcements’ will
help even more veterans who are struggling with PTSD discover a new
opportunity to restart their lives and move forward.”
After meeting in Washington, D.C., for a visit to Arlington Cemetery,
Davis and Swoboda set out on a 2,167-mile road trip, stopping in
Louisville, Kentucky, and Macon, Georgia, on their way to Ponte Verde,
Florida, where they join fellow veterans for a graduation ceremony at
K9s For Warriors. Along the way, Davis, Swoboda, and Lilly receive some
unexpected gifts and meet with other K9s For Warriors graduates who are
learning to cope with their past and live their lives to the fullest –
thanks to the help of their service dog companions.
“Early Times and our parent company, Brown-Forman, have a long history
of giving back to the men and women who have so bravely served our
country and preserved our freedom through their sacrifice,” said Marc
Hindorff, senior brand manager for Early Times. “Every veteran who
receives a service dog from K9s For Warriors has a story to tell – we
wanted to share those stories across the country. We hope that
‘Reinforcements’ will increase awareness and support for K9s For
Warriors with the goal of pairing even more service dogs with veterans,
empowering them to continue living life with independence and dignity
after military service.”
“Reinforcements” is one component of a multi-year campaign made possible
by: Early Times; its parent company, Brown-Forman Corporation, which has
a long history of military support; and BRAVE, a Brown-Forman veterans
employee resource group. Earlier this year, Early Times donated more
than $100,000 to K9s For Warriors to fund training for five
warrior/service dog teams.
As another part of the campaign, veterans at the Brown-Forman Cooperage
created custom barrel doghouses for service canines and the brand has
invited consumers aged 21 and up to help K9s For Warriors name the five
sponsored service dogs. Fans can suggest their favorite names on the Early
Times Facebook page through the end of August.
“Reinforcements” has been accepted into the Louisville International
Festival of Film, scheduled for October, and will be touring the film
festival circuit in the coming months. The documentary will be made
available for public viewing later in 2016. The film’s trailer may be
viewed online at EarlyTimes.com.
ABOUT EARLY TIMES:
The Brown-Forman Company (NYSE:BFA) (NYSE:BFB) acquired Early Times in
1923, and over the next 30 years, made Early Times the best-selling
whisky in the country. Today, its smoothness is savored in over 40
countries. For more than 145 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has
enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality
beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack
Daniel’s & Cola, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Gentleman Jack, Jack
Daniel’s Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador, Woodford Reserve,
Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer, Early Times, and
Chambord. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly 4,600 employees
and sold in approximately 160 countries worldwide. For more information
about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.
ABOUT BRAVE:
Brown-Forman Rallying All Veterans for Excellence (BRAVE) is a veterans’
employee resource group seeking to create a network to identify,
support, develop and promote the unique characteristics and needs of
military veterans and their families throughout Brown-Forman’s business
locations and surrounding communities.
ABOUT K9s FOR WARRIORS:
K9s For Warriors was founded in 2011 by Shari Duval after her son Brett
returned from Iraq as a contractor suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress
Disability. Duval recognized a need to innovatively and effectively
treat the devastating epidemic. What started as an idea developed into a
passionate nonprofit organization committed to saving the lives of
rescue dogs and military heroes alike. Since 9/11, there have been
130,000 veteran suicides (22 lives lost a day to PTSD). Through a
three-week, live-in training program – at no cost to the veterans – K9s
For Warriors graduates are much better equipped to return to civilian
life with dignity and independence while reducing their risk of suicide.
The mission of K9s For Warriors is to stop these 22 daily suicides
altogether.
Contacts
Brown-Forman
Tracy Frederick, 502-774-7271
tracy_frederick@b-f.com
