This year, GLAAD bridged a new partnership with RÖKK Vodka to help fund our work to amplify LGBT voices. In 2011, that partnership will continue to grow as GLAAD welcomes RÖKK Vodka as its Presenting Partner for the GLAAD Media Awards series.
Made in Sweden, RÖKK debuted in the United States this past July and has already made a real splash in the LGBT community. This year, ROKK began bringing their brand to LGBT consumers in New York City, and RÖKK has since worked with several national and local LGBT organizations to help promote full equality.
“GLAAD is doing incredible work and has been for 25 years,” says Adam Rosen, RÖKK Vodkas Brand Director. “Working with GLAAD is a huge opportunity for us and one we capitalized on right away because we would like to raise awareness of important LGBT issues, be a part of the community and take a stand within the community. There is no better platform than GLAAD to be able to do that.”
RÖKK Vodka gets its name from the Rök Runestone, the name of the largest and most famous Viking Rune which was found near the distillery where the vodka is made in Sweden, and offers the quality of premium vodkas at a price that is friendly to value-driven consumers. RÖKK has also received several awards, including the Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, for its impeccable quality and pure taste, a result of RÖKK Vodkas distinctive and highly sophisticated freeze filtration process.
RÖKK Vodka is part of the premium beverage company Diageos portfolio of brands. The company is fully committed to the LGBT community and has been a longstanding supporter of equality initiatives. Diageo received a perfect score on HRCs Corporate Equality Index, and with the help of its Senior Vice President of Innovation, Neil Tallantire, Diageo launched the Rainbow Network, an employee resource group for LGBT staff and allies. The initiative acts as a sounding board to ensure all of the company’s policies are LGBT-inclusive. “Being senior within the organization, it is good to be a visible out gay man,” says Tallantire. “That makes it more reassuring for more junior employees to feel that they can safely be authentic in the workplace.”
GLAAD is thrilled to welcome RÖKK Vodka as its 2011 GLAAD Media Awards Presenting Partner!
For information on how your company can become a corporate partner, please contact GLAADs Director of Corporate Relations, Lane Hosmer, at hosmer@glaad.org or by phone at (646) 871-8007.