The makers of Sparkling Ice, Talking Rain Beverage Co., Preston, Wash., announced a range of corporate social responsibility initiatives to support veterans and the fight against breast cancer by collaborating with two organizations: Honor Flight Network, Springfield, Ohio; and UW Medicine, Seattle.

During the course of the company’s annual Honor Flight program, where Sparkling Ice sales teams executed more than 850 in-store Honor Flight displays across the country, the company raised more than $112,000, it says.

"We first began to support the organizations local affiliate, Puget Sound Honor Flight several years ago after I stumbled upon a moving departure flight at the airport," said Chris Hall, chief executive officer of Talking Rain, in a statement. "Three years later, not only are we proud to support such a meaningful charity that supports our veterans on both a regional and national scale, but we are honored to donate year after year while continuously exceeding our company's donation goals.”

In the past three years, Talking Rain has raised more than $216,000 for the Honor Flight Network, it says. The brand activates its fundraising efforts through a patriotic in-store retail program featuring Honor Flight themed POS displays and via donations from distributor and supplier partners, it adds.

Looking ahead to next year, Talking Rain has vowed to further expand its in-store retail programs, fundraising initiatives and more, in support of the regional and national Honor Flight Network.

Talking Rain Beverage Co. also announced its partnership with UW Medicine, to raise funds that directly will support the ongoing development of the breast cancer vaccine at UW Medicine’s Cancer Vaccine Institute, the company says.

As part of the partnership, Talking Rain presented a check of $50,000 to the UW Medicine Cancer Vaccine Institute in mid-October, it adds.

"On behalf of Talking Rain, it was an honor to present our donation of $50,000 to Dr. Nora Disis who heads up the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine and breast cancer survivor Kristi Blair, a leading supporter of the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine," said Nina Morrison, vice president of community and customer relations at Talking Rain, in a statement.

"With the support of Dr. Nora Disis and Kristi Blair, we know we're taking one step closer to finding a cure and supporting our company's goal of creating a breast cancer vaccine for all women,” she said.

For more than 22 years, Talking Rain has been supporting breast cancer awareness initiatives nationwide such as the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure, and donates a minimum of $25,000 annually to research facilities to help find a cure and raise breast cancer awareness, the company says. In addition, Sparkling Ice's Kiwi Strawberry flavor displays a Pink Ribbon all year long in support of breast cancer prevention, it adds.

For more information on Sparkling Ice’s Honor Flight support, visit https://www.talkingrain.com/honor-flight/. For more information on Talking Rain’s recent check presentation at UW Medicine, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY83saTAWs8&t=2s.