Giant Eagle, Sparkling Ice sponsor service dog for veteran. Share via: Sparkling Ice and Giant Eagle are partnering for a second year to sponsor the training of a service dog for a U.S. military veteran through K9s For Warriors. The campaign, which recognizes PTSD Awareness Month, supports veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other invisible wounds of war - at no cost to the veterans. "Talking Rain believes in bringing full flavor to life, which for us means enabling people to embrace activities they enjoy and being able to participate fully in life with their families and their communities," said Ken Sylvia, CEO of Talking Rain. "Every dog trained and paired with a veteran represents a life restored, and we're proud to partner with Giant Eagle again to support K9s For Warriors." Talking Rain, the makers of Sparkling Ice, has been a partner of K9s For Warriors since 2023. To date, that support equates to 17 service dogs rescued, trained and paired with veterans in need. Rocky, the shelter dog-turned-service dog that Talking Rain sponsored on the presidential campaign trail in 2024, will appear again in store aisles beside variety 12-packs of Sparkling Ice, co-branded with K9s For Warriors. "For veterans living with invisible wounds of war, we know that everyday moments like grocery shopping can be difficult and sometimes even overwhelming," said Jonathan Mancuso, director of retail media sales at Giant Eagle. "By sponsoring our second dog with Talking Rain's Sparkling Ice brand, we're investing once more in someone's ability to move through the world with greater ease and confidence. It's an honor to support someone who has sacrificed so much for our country." Shoppers can vote to name the service dog - Berry, Birdy or Sparky - when visiting their local Giant Eagle store. Later this year, the dog will visit Giant Eagle's headquarters and select stores to greet shoppers. During the visits, Giant Eagle and Sparkling Ice will promote awareness of the importance of service dogs for those with PTSD and invisible wounds and share tips on what to do if shoppers encounter a service dog in a grocery store. "Every partnership we build brings us closer to meeting the needs of veterans who are still waiting for support and to be paired with a life-changing service dog," said Daniel Bean, CEO at K9s For Warriors. "With over 300 veterans on our waitlist, the need is urgent, and the generosity of partners like Talking Rain and Giant Eagle makes a tangible difference." Since its founding 15 years ago in 2011, K9s For Warriors has paired nearly 1,300 U.S. veterans across all 50 states with life-changing service dogs and rescued more than 2,500 dogs. The Shelby Report delivers complete grocery news and supermarket insights nationwide through the distribution of five monthly regional print and digital editions. Serving the retail food trade since 1967,... More by Shelby Team

Talking Rain and K9s For Warriors run with a bigger pack as co-branded Sparkling Ice 12-packs hit store shelves. Apr. 30, 2026, 12:00 PM PRESTON, Wash., April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Sparkling Ice(R), crafted by Talking Rain Beverage Company(R), announced today the return of its co-branded packaging partnership with K9s For Warriors, expanding from last year's six-pack wrap to a new 12-pack design. "Expanding from a six-pack to a 12-pack is more than a packaging update, it's a reflection of how much this partnership has grown," said Ken Sylvia, CEO of Talking Rain. "As our Sparkling Ice packs get bigger, so does the pack of service dogs we've helped pair with veterans through K9s For Warriors. That's something our entire team is incredibly proud of." As May marks the observance of Military Appreciation Month, the Sparkling Ice Blue, Pink and Purple Variety Packs will feature a "Proud Partners of K9s For Warriors" logo for a limited time in national retail stores and on Amazon. In-store displays will feature Rocky, a rescue dog-turned service dog, who was trained by K9s For Warriors and paired with his "Battle Buddy" in 2025. K9s For Warriors is the nation's leading provider of service dogs to military veterans struggling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma - at no financial cost to the veteran. Since its founding 15 years ago in 2011, the organization has paired more than 1,300 veterans with life-changing service dogs and rescued more than 2,500 dogs. Since 2023, Talking Rain's commitment to K9s For Warriors has helped the organization rescue, train and pair lifesaving service dogs with veterans living with invisible wounds of war. Their partnership has even grown to include retailers, such as Giant Eagle, which last year jointly sponsored a puppy who was trained by K9s For Warriors and paired with a veteran in Cleveland, Ohio. "Through this partnership, we've seen firsthand the impact a trained service dog can make in a veteran's life," said Sylvia. "Rocky's journey is a powerful example of what's possible when communities come together. We're proud to continue this partnership and hope seeing Rocky's face in stores nationwide inspires Sparkling Ice fans to join us in supporting this life-changing mission." Talking Rain's employees, called "Rain Makers," get to be hands-on with K9s For Warriors' mission, too. During National Volunteer Month this year and last, Rain Makers visited K9s For Warriors' headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Florida, where they helped to spruce up training spaces, wrote encouragement cards for veterans and learned directly from warrior and service dog trainers about the program's impact. "K9s For Warriors is incredibly proud to partner with Talking Rain," said Daniel Bean, CEO of K9s For Warriors. "As we celebrate our 15th anniversary in 2026, we're reflecting on how far we've come and the thousands of warriors whose lives have been saved by a highly-trained service dog. Talking Rain has been a meaningful part of that journey, and this Military Appreciation Month, these 12-pack wraps carry our mission of saving veterans, rescuing dogs and restoring families into stores and directly to consumers." Talking Rain looks forward to continuing its work with K9s For Warriors, broadening the reach and impact made on veterans and rescue dogs across the country. As this partnership, and the pack, continues to grow, consumers can look forward to seeing more of K9s For Warriors in retail stores across the nation. About Talking Rain(R) Beverage Company Talking Rain, the makers of Sparkling Ice(R), is a family-owned company based in Preston, Washington. Through nearly four decades of redefining the sparkling water category, Talking Rain has crafted a remarkable collection of full-flavored, better-for-you beverages, including the No. 1 sparkling water brand in the U.S., Sparkling Ice (also available in Caffeine and Energy), and Popwell, a cold-crafted prebiotic soda. Talking Rain drinks are enriched with vitamins and antioxidants and come in a delicious array of bold flavors. Talking Rain believes in sharing its success to support healthy communities, personal wellbeing, and greater inclusivity. We live life in full flavor and believe the world should, too. About K9s For Warriors Determined to end Veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the leading nonprofit organization that provides trained Service Dogs to military Veterans nationwide suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma - at no financial cost to the Veteran. Backed by groundbreaking scientific research from the University of Arizona's OHAIRE Lab, the program demonstrates how Service Dogs can help mitigate symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring confidence and independence. Founded in 2011 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors is committed to saving lives at both ends of the leash by primarily rescuing dogs and pairing them with Veterans in need. The organization is also dedicated to raising awareness about Veterans' mental health and driving policy-level reform. To date, K9s has paired more than 1,300 Veterans with life-changing Service Dogs and rescued more than 2,500 dogs. Media Contact: Alaina Bundy K9s For Warriors Public Relations Manager [email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at Markets Insider and Business Insider Editorial Teams were not involved in the creation of this post. Sponsored Financial Content