I believe we are all put on this earth to give back to help others in need whether it’s a charitable donation or volunteering your time. My grandmother always said charity begins at home and yes that rings true however, there are so many important causes that need our help especially in these uncertain times.
When my late husband Jonathan and I started Señor Rio in 2009, we were on a mission to build our tequila brand one bottle at a time. We worked tirelessly from early morning to late at night self-distributing in the Arizona heat supporting each other and loving every moment of the excitement and passion we experienced. Even though it took five years before we could give ourselves an income and see a profit, it was worth every minute to make our dreams a reality.
A HISTORY OF GIVING BACK
During those early years when we were self-distributing one bottle at a time, we were approached by many charitable organizations asking for a donation. If it was a cause we believed in, the answer was always “we are happy to commit and support your cause however we can.” We were always giving away a few bottles for a silent auction, hosting a tasting event where we offered samples of Senor Rio tequila, or simply writing a check.
Most of these organizations were local to Arizona, again Charity begins at home, and there were times we would drive to other states to support their event as well. Being a part of these organizations gave us joy, hope, and a sense of fulfillment. We are honored and humbled to say that we have supported these wonderful organizations:
WE CAN’T GIVE BACK TO EVERYONE
Jonathan would remind me that while we are a company that cares and want to help make a difference by giving back, we are giving away more then we are selling. That made me realize that I have to say no sometimes because we have to grow the company profits. There is a limit on what we can do to help others, so I compromised and said that when we hit it big, we can donate more and maybe start our own foundation. A dream and goal that is still coming together in my mind.
He smiled and said more paperwork for me because starting a non-for profit is a lot of work and we have so much to do now. He suggested that when we are at the store shopping and we see a Mom with kids, we buy her groceries to help her feed her family. That’s exactly what we did until we had the opportunity to do more.
BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF GIVING BACK
In the last ten years there have been successes and losses, both professionally and personally and I won’t share any specifics here. However, it is in remembrance of Jonathan and to honor his legacy that we are going to give back to help feed families in need.
From now until December 31, 2020, I will donate $1.00 to St. Mary’s Food Bank for every 750ml bottle of Señor Rio tequila sold. This is something I know will make Jonathan proud and help a lot of families. No I haven’t made it big yet, but I am committed to giving back one bottle at a time. I made this announcement on April 18, 2020 during a live interview on FOX 10 Phoenix News. I also suggested that if there are any other businesses that would match my donation dollar for dollar, we could make an even bigger difference helping feed families in need.
Salud!
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