Annual Summer Effort Builds Awareness for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
OLD BROOKVILLE, N.Y., MAY 6, 2016 – For the fourth year in a row, Riunite is supporting TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) from May through July. Cumulatively, through donations, point-of-sale, and advertising, Riunite has contributed over $1,250,000 in support to TAPS.
“Four years ago when we had the idea to leverage Riunite’s best selling season (summer) to increase awareness for TAPS,” says Charles Dellavecchia, Portfolio Director at Banfi Vintners, U.S. importer of Riunite, “we hoped it would resonate with Americans’ strong sense of patriotism and support for the families of fallen heroes from Memorial Day to Independence Day. It’s done that and so much more.”
“In addition to the contributions made by our team, our distributor partners raised – on their own — another $50,000 for TAPS through the years,” says Dellavecchia. “It’s that kind of selflessness and generosity that inspires us to continue the program.”
Over the four years there were a total of 12,000 in-store displays of Riunite featuring TAPS and encouraging donations. This summer, there will be a record-breaking 3,100 displays in grocery stores and liquors stores across the USA. Riunite also sponsored TAPS events, such as their annual golf outing and gala, and promoted the organization at Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFEES) accounts nationwide.
Additionally, for the last 2 years, 400,000 dog tags emblazoned with the TAPS and Riunite logos and including a call-to-action for support were produced for consumers as a remembrance.
“The dog tags have been a big hit with consumers, particularly millennials,” says Dellavecchia. “They’re a badge of honor, a reminder of contributing to a cause that’s not easy, but one that’s important.”
In addition to supporting TAPS with in-store displays, dog tags, and messaging on the Riunite Facebook page to its 245,000 followers from Memorial Day through July 4th , Riunite will also make a donation to TAPS for every bottle sold during that time period.
About Banfi Vintners
Banfi Vintners, the exclusive importer of Riunite in the United States, was founded in New York in 1919 by John F. Mariani, Sr. and built into America’s leading wine marketer over the last four decades. The company continues to be family-owned by the founder’s children and grandchildren, who are also proprietors of the Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, Tuscany; Vigne Regali Cellars in Strevi, Piedmont; and Pacific Rim Winery in Washington’s Columbia Valley. For more information, visit www.banfiwines.com or contact Joe Janish, Director of Public Relations, at jjanish@banfi.com.
About TAPS
Since its founding in 1994 by bereaved military families, TAPS has helped more than 50,000 grieving military family members and their caregivers. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, connections to community-based care, casualty casework assistance, and a 24/7 resources and information help line for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information, go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free resource and information help line at 800.959.TAPS (8277).
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