It’s Thanksgiving, that time of year again when family and friends gather around tables across the country to give thanks and celebrate the past year. Unfortunately not everyone can make it home for the holidays this year; particularly the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces (USAF) who are selflessly spending their holiday season sacrificing for others.

The Guinness brand will be making sure these men and women – and their ‘empty chairs’ – are not forgotten with the brand encouraging drinkers of legal age to Raise Your Glass to Heroes on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
 
Thousands of bars across the country will be participating on this date. The Guinness Gives Back Fund will donate $1 to Packages From Home – a charity that assembles and distributes care packages for those in the USAF – for every adult consumer that participates, up to $10,000.  More details to come on how people can be involved.
 
“The selfless men and women of the United States Armed Forces are truly Made of More and we could not be happier to support them this holiday season,” said Guinness Brand Director Doug Campbell. “As we spend time with loved ones in the coming weeks, it’s important that we take time to thank those making sacrifices day in and day out. Providing these individuals with some comfort items from home is the least we can do to show our gratitude and respect.”
 
Guinness’ Here’s To Heroes initiative comes less than one year after the brand debuted the national television spot, ‘Empty Chair.’ In the ad, a bartender and local community keep the spirit of a deployed serviceman present in the bar by pouring a pint of Guinness daily and setting it down in front of an empty chair to remain undisturbed until the day that he returns home to a hero’s welcome.
 
To learn more about The Guinness Gives Back Fund and Guinness’ efforts to support those who are Made of More, and/or to contribute to its fundraising efforts, please visit www.GuinnessGivesBack.com.   
 
Thank you all.