sgws
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Employee Disaster Relief Assistance Program
Employee Disaster Relief Assistance Guidelines
Employees of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits who have been impacted by major natural disasters may be eligible for financial relief through one of Southern Glazer’s employee relief programs managed by Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
About the SGWS Employee Disaster Relief Assistance Program
The SGWS Employee Disaster Relief Assistance Program managed by Neighbors 4 Neighbors was established to provide tax-free disaster relief grants to employees of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits to help employees cope with unexpected crises that place undue financial stress on them and their families. A crisis may include the death of an employee, accidents, natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, mudslides or other acts of nature that result in significant property damage or loss, or other financial hardship for employees. The program relies primarily on the support of the SGWS Relief & Charitable Foundation and individual donations from employees.
Employee Eligibility
Applicants must be full-time employees of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits on the date of the grant award following the application.
Grant Criteria
Grants from the Foundation are intended to assist in covering reasonable and necessary personal, family, living, transportation, and repair expenses for items not covered by any insurance policy, FEMA or other assistance. Based on the individual circumstances and completed application, grants may be used toward items such as:
- Food (immediate needs only, up to 2 to 4 weeks after disaster event)
- Clothing (immediate needs only, up to 2 to 4 weeks after disaster event)
- Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from a disaster event
- Temporary housing
- Reasonable repairs to damaged property
- Essential appliances, home furnishings and utilities
- Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- Vehicle repairs for damage incurred (not including routine maintenance or cosmetic repair)
- Cost of public transportation
- Car rental up to 30 days
Employees are not required to pay back disaster grants from Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
Grant Limits
The maximum amount available for each employee application is $10,000. Employees may receive financial support from Neighbors 4 Neighbors once in a twelve-month period. Any exceptions to these limits will be made on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
Application Process
Employees must submit an application within 60 days of the date of the qualifying disaster. The application must establish a financial need and document the expenses for which the grant is being requested. Payments cannot be made without copies of current bills, invoices or estimates. Applications will be reviewed based on an objective determination of need by an independent selection committee. Applicants will be notified about the approval status of their grant request within 10 business days or less upon receipt of a completed application. Process time will be extended in cases where documentation or signatures are missing, or if other information is needed. Applicants will be notified if there is missing information from the application. Neighbors 4 Neighbors is under no obligation to award the total amount requested. Applications to the Neighbors 4 Neighbors selection committee are confidential.
Emergency Bridge Loans
Separate from the SGWS Relief & Charitable Foundation, in the event of a significant hardship from a natural disaster, employees may apply for an Emergency Bridge Loan from Southern Glazer’s. The purpose of this program is to provide a source of expedient cash flow to an employee and their family who has been impacted by a disaster. These short-term, interest-free loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when an employee has secured longer term recovery resources, such as receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance. Eligibility and application guidelines for the Emergency Bridge Loan are the same as for the Foundation as described above. Note: Imputed interest on any loan over $10,000 may be taxable to employees.
The amount of the loan granted will take into account other resources of the applicant. Any amounts advanced under this provision will be documented with a promissory note where terms and conditions will be reflected on the applicable note.