Some things start small and grow into something that surprises everyone — including the people who started them. Bourbon Charity is like that.
Where It Started
In 2019, my younger brother Brandon was facing something no family is ready for. Our father — "Pops" — was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Around the same time, the daughter of a close family friend was found to have multiple brain tumors. Two hard diagnoses, close together, in people we loved.
Brandon had a personal bourbon collection he had been building for years. He had an idea: turn it into something that mattered. He started hosting charity auctions and tastings, channeling proceeds to causes doing real work for people in crisis.
It landed. The community that rallied around it grew faster than either of us expected.
What It Has Become
Today, Bourbon Charity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with over 20,000 supporters rallied under #drinkforachange. Since founding:
- Over $1.585 million raised for charitable causes
- 100+ grants issued to 49 different charities
- The organization holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid/GuideStar — the highest accountability rating in the nonprofit sector
I have served as Treasurer since we launched. That Platinum rating is not cosmetic — it reflects six years of rigorous financial reporting, independent verification, and genuine accountability to our donors.
Why It Matters to Me
I spent 20 years in the Air Force Reserve. I have seen what happens to military families when a service member is wounded and cannot access care close to home. Organizations like the Fisher House Foundation do work that is hard to put a dollar value on. Bourbon Charity has supported veterans causes from the beginning — alongside a broad range of charities in health, community, and human services.
I am proud of what Brandon built. I am proud to have been part of it from the start.