notable EDIBLES
Pouring Up Philanthropy by DARBY KENDALL
W
hen Tito Beveridge first began producing and selling Tito’s Handmade Vodka in Austin over 20 years ago, a local nonprofit called him up and asked if he could
donate a couple of cases of his vodka to their fundraising event. “He had just started the first legal distillery in Texas, and he decided that it was really a great way to get the brand in the hand, so he would donate products to nonprofit events,” says Lisa Huddleston, director of strategic philanthropy at Tito's
the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, more commonly known
Handmade Vodka. “When the events kept getting bigger and big-
as HAAM, an organization that provides access to affordable health-
ger, he kept donating his product more and more. The only thing
care for low-income, working musicians in our city. With the release
he would really ask is, ‘If you like it, tell 20 of your closest friends.’”
of the video, Huddleston says HAAM gained national exposure like
Those initial donations have now grown into a full-fledged philan-
they’d never seen before.
thropy project known as Love, Tito’s. The name originates from
“We support a plethora of nonprofits, both in Austin and nation-
the signatures that employees put on letters and donations to the
wide, and we've even gone global as well,” Huddleston says. “But
organizations they benefit, always signing “Love, Tito’s.”
obviously, we always want to make the biggest impact here in our
Today, they have given products, promotions and cash donations
backyard, in Austin.”
to thousands of nonprofits throughout the country. “Whether it’s
When asked what the future of Love, Tito’s holds, Huddleston
something local like Emancipet here in Austin or natural disasters
replies that she hopes their work will inspire others to give back
on a global scale, we try to spread love and joy as much as we can
as well. “Tito has done it, and all of our employees have done it,
and as far as we can,” Huddleston says.
with vodka as our medium,” she says. “Whatever you're passion-
One of their more recent philanthropic projects is the Love Stories video series, highlighting three nonprofits particularly near and dear to the hearts of the Love, Tito’s team. One video focuses on
ate about, whatever you find that makes a difference to you in the world, we just hope that you would go out and support it.” For more information, visit titosvodka.com/love
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