Del Papa Distributing Company Receives Special Honor for "Operation GI Joe/GI Jane" Initiative

GALVESTON, TX--(Marketwire - Apr 12, 2011) - Del Papa Distributing Company recently received the 2011 Beverage World Beacon Award in honor of the company's "Operation GI Joe/GI Jane" project, during the annual BevOps Conference Excellence Awards Dinner. Introduced in 2005, the Beacon Award is given in recognition of outstanding community service and humanitarian efforts.

Del Papa's "Operation GI Joe/GI Jane" project aims to provide troops serving overseas with some of the comforts of home during the holiday season. Late last year, the company encouraged the public to donate everything from games and reading materials, to personal hygiene products and snack foods, to help create military care packages. Del Papa then organized, assembled and shipped these packages to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The GI Joe/GI Jane Project is very important to the entire Del Papa team, and we are delighted to receive this special honor," said Mike Ferlet, Vice President of Business Regulations & Industry Affairs for Del Papa. "We are proud that our company, along with the generous individuals who donated, was able to brighten the holidays for some of our troops stationed abroad, and hope to continue to provide support in the future."

Eric Joseph, Vice President of Logistics for Del Papa, accepted the award on behalf of the company in front of 150 attendees at the M. Resort in Las Vegas. Also in attendance were Allen Schertz, Director of Human Resources for Del Papa's Galveston office, and his wife Connie, both of whom played an influential role in the project.

To learn more about Del Papa and their century of service, please visit http://www.delpapabud.com/.

About Del Papa Distributing Company
In 2010, Del Papa Distributing Company celebrated 100 years of business. From its founding by an Italian immigrant, Omero Del Papa, in Galveston in 1910, to its current operations distributing a variety of brands throughout the Texas Gulf Coast in three major markets, Del Papa is committed to supporting and strengthening the many communities in which its customers and employees live. Del Papa Distributing Company looks forward to the next 100 years of business, representing quality people and building brands and friendships... one case at a time.