Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) today announced that Bert “Tito” Beveridge, founder of Tito’s Handmade Vodka will receive the 2024 Ray Herrmann H.E.R.O. (Humanitarian, Ethical, Respectful, and One-of-a-kind) Award at Access LIVE next month.

“From the beginning, Tito built his brand and company around an ethos of philanthropy that persists to this day. Tito is a larger-than-life inspiration to us all,” said WSWA CEO and President Francis Creighton.

"The Ray Herrmann H.E.R.O. Award honors transformational leaders in our industry who, like Ray, have made an enormous impact not just in business, but through their character and deep connections with others. Tito Beveridge is one such person, whose larger-than-life personality and infectious energy impacts all those he meets," said Charlie Merinoff, Co-Chairman of Breakthru Beverage Group.

"Over the years, Tito has earned a strong reputation as an industry leader in philanthropy and community engagement and has consistently responded to challenges with compassion and a huge heart to help others, just like Ray. At Breakthru, we are proud to work with such a partner and congratulate him on receiving this incredible honor."

Beveridge said he would donate his $20,000 prize to the WSWA Educational Foundation’s Robert Qualls Scholarship Fund and match it with an additional $20,000 contribution of his own. Qualls was a spirits industry veteran and Tito’s and distributor employee.