Sweet Heart Winery Renews Commitment to Combat Recovery Foundation and Northern Colorado Veterans

Partnership reflects Sweet Heart’s broader commitment to supporting veterans, children and women throughout the communities it serves

LOVELAND, Colo. — October 1, 2026 — Sweet Heart Winery reaffirmed its commitment to veterans and military families this week through its continued support of Combat Recovery Foundation, a Colorado nonprofit helping veterans and survivors of trauma rediscover community, purpose and belonging.

The partnership is part of a much broader effort by Sweet Heart Brands to use the growth of its wine, cider and hospitality businesses to make a meaningful difference in the communities that have supported the company.

Throughout 2026, Sweet Heart has directed hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial contributions, sponsorships, products and other support to dozens of nonprofit organizations and community causes, with a particular focus on children, women and veterans.

For Charles Oster, CEO of Sweet Heart Brands, the commitment to veterans is deeply personal. “I am the son of a veteran, and today I’m the incredibly proud father of an active-duty Air Force pilot,” Oster said. “When we talk about supporting the men and women who have served our country, this isn’t abstract for me. These are our sons and daughters, our parents, our friends and our neighbors. They raised their hands to serve us. We have an obligation as a community to be there for them.”

Community, Purpose and Belonging

Combat Recovery Foundation was founded by Marshall Spring, a combat-disabled Marine Corps veteran, and works to prevent suicide and support veterans and survivors of trauma. Its programs focus on reducing isolation and helping people rebuild connection, purpose and belonging through peer support, education, community involvement and recovery initiatives. “Veterans don’t need to be reminded of what they’ve been through — they need people willing to stand beside them as they move forward,” Spring said. “Support from companies like Sweet Heart Winery allows us to continue building community, restoring purpose and creating a sense of belonging. When a community chooses to show up for its veterans, it sends a powerful message: your service mattered, and you still matter.”

That focus on human connection closely aligns with Sweet Heart Winery’s own mission: Create experiences for people to connect. “Combat Recovery Foundation is creating connection in circumstances where it can literally change the direction of someone’s life,” Oster said. “We are proud to stand alongside Marshall and his team and support the work they are doing for veterans and their families.”

Turning Products Into Purpose

Sweet Heart is increasingly connecting its growing portfolio of wines and ciders with causes important to the company and its customers. Patriot Press American Hard Cider has become closely associated with Sweet Heart’s commitment to veterans, while the company’s broader cause program supports organizations serving children, women and families.

“We want our brands to stand for something,” said Dylan Kaczeus, General Manager of Business Development & Wholesale for Sweet Heart Brands. “As Patriot Press and our other ciders grow throughout Colorado, we have an opportunity to build giving into that growth. More placements, more customers and more awareness can ultimately mean more resources going back into the communities we serve.” For Kaczeus, Patriot Press carries a particular responsibility. “If we are going to put the word ‘Patriot’ on one of our products, we believe there should be substance behind it,” Kaczeus said. “Supporting organizations like Combat Recovery Foundation is part of what we want that brand to represent.”

A Commitment That Grows With Sweet Heart

Combat Recovery Foundation is one of dozens of organizations and causes supported by Sweet Heart throughout the year. Sweet Heart’s community efforts include support for Children’s Hospital Colorado Heart Institute, Be the Gift in Northern Colorado, and numerous other nonprofits, schools, families and community organizations.

The company’s approach is intentionally local, with much of its giving concentrated in the communities where Sweet Heart’s employees, customers and families live and work.

“We are tremendously proud of what Sweet Heart is becoming, but growth by itself isn’t enough,” Oster said. “The communities around us have supported Sweet Heart in an extraordinary way, and we believe strongly in returning that support. As our company grows, we want our ability to give back to grow with it.”

For Oster, the commitment to veterans carries an additional meaning. “I know what it feels like to watch your child put on the uniform and leave home to serve this country,” Oster said. “There is enormous pride in that, but there is also an understanding of what military families give and what service can demand. Supporting veterans isn’t something we want to talk about once a year. We want it to be part of who we are.”

PHOTO CAPTION Sweet Heart Winery renews its commitment to Combat Recovery Foundation and its work supporting veterans and survivors of trauma. Pictured from left: Rob & Tammie Larson, Farah Oster & Charles Oster, Marshall Spring, Corey Spring and Dylan Kaczeus. Photo courtesy of Sweet Heart Winery.

About Combat Recovery Foundation Combat Recovery Foundation is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and supporting veterans and survivors of trauma. Founded by combat-disabled Marine Corps veteran Marshall Spring, the organization works to help individuals reconnect, rebuild and thrive through community, peer coaching, education, service and recovery initiatives. Combat Recovery Foundation

About Sweet Heart Winery Sweet Heart Winery is a Northern Colorado winery, cidery and hospitality company built around a simple mission: Create experiences for people to connect. Based in Loveland, Colorado, Sweet Heart’s portfolio includes premium wines and the Patriot Press, Climb Hard, Black Bear and SweetHeart Cider brands. Its growing cause-driven program focuses particularly on children, women and veterans, connecting the growth of its brands with greater investment in the communities it serves. MEDIA CONTACT Megan Nickelson Sweet Heart Winery Megan@sweetheartwinery.com