America’s 250th anniversary is fast-approaching on July 4, with brand sponsors including Walmart, Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin, Oracle and Bank of America. In May, PRWeek spoke with Jim Joseph, global director of brand impact for FleishmanHillard, on The PR Week podcast to discuss how the firm is advising brands on how to celebrate the national moment while mitigating risk through its America 250 advisory unit.The anniversary provides an opportunity for brands to connect their own rich heritage with “both the history and future of America,” Joseph said, noting that the national state and local community levels of celebration in July offer a “unique chance for a brand to connect with very different sets of audiences.”On the podcast episode, Joseph advised brands participating in America 250 to expect a full-year celebration that “isn’t going to start and stop on the 250th birthday.” The most successful brands participating in the anniversary will know “how to stay involved” and “how to continue to participate,” he said.From Walmart to Hilton, here’s how 10 brands have celebrated the nation’s 250th anniversary so far.Chevrolet records American heartbeats for its 80s-inspired spotChevrolet recreated its 1988 Heartbeat of America campaign for the anniversary, mixing recordings of Americans’ heartbeats within the 60-second spot’s background music. Alabama-based band The Red Clay Strays recreated Aretha Franklin’s original version of “Heartbeat of America” for the spot.The car company tapped “Americans who represent the heartbeat of America and are making an impact in their own communities” from Texas, Detroit and Kansas for the spot, which is part of a larger, year-long campaign to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, according to a brand statement.Josh Cellars donates to military veterans and first respondersWine brand Josh Cellars – which was founded by a volunteer firefighter in 2007 as a tribute to his military veteran father – is celebrating America’s 250th birthday with a multi-year charity partnership to benefit U.S. veterans and first responders. The brand aims to raise up to $100,000, donating $1 for each bottle sold between May 1 and July 31, to the Gary Sinise Foundation, according to a brand statement. Launched with a Celebrating 250 Years of Neighborly Love spot, Josh Cellars’ America 250 initiative will include activations with the Gary Sinise Foundation and launch patriotic-themed Pinterest and shoppable recipe advertising. Ahead of National Firefighters Appreciation day on May 4, Josh Cellars also funded a grant for the Gary Sinise Foundation to benefit a local firehouse in Stephentown, New York, according to a brand statement.Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram get into patriotic gearThe official automotive partners of America250 – Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram – released a Declaration of Deals, America250-themed vehicles and an America Made Us campaign for the semiquincentennial celebration. The Stellantis U.S. brands’ Declaration of Deals includes 0% financing and 90 days of no monthly payments on select models. From March to June, the brands launched a new A250-edition vehicle each month with America250-themed exterior badging. A fleet of the A250-edition vehicles will be provided to America250 official events across the country, according to a Stellantis U.S. announcement.Along with an America Made Us campaign to announce the partnership, Stellantis designed a America250-themed wrap to cover its headquarters in Michigan. Car dealers nationwide are installing Declaration of Deals showroom displays to support the partnership.Walmart puts two years of prep into America250With 90% of Americans living within ten miles of a Walmart store, the corporation is leveraging its national reach with deals and volunteering opportunities in relation to the nation’s anniversary. The America250 founding sponsor began announcing plans for the semiquincentennial anniversary in July 2024.Walmart launched two initiatives with America250: Our American Story and America Gives. The corporation is funding recording equipment costs for Our American Story, a collection of oral historical chronicles to be preserved at the Library of Congress. America250 is gathering the content with The Roadshow – a mobile recording studio that travels the country to record Americans’ family histories and personal legacies.The America Gives initiative partnered with Walmart’s Spark Good giving program, and launched a national volunteering and donations effort in 2024. Walmart also helped fund local grassroots efforts and America 250 celebrations in partnership with America250 and State and Territory Semiquincentennial Commissions.Lastly, the brand launched an America250 savings page with 274 discounted items including grills, July 4th party decor and America250 baseball caps.Cuisinart launches red, white and blue ice cream machineFor Americans gathering at summer barbecues and July 4th celebrations, Cuisinart launched a limited-edition red, white and blue collection which includes the FastFreeze 250th celebration ice cream maker.Retailing for $99 on Amazon and $119 on Cuisinart’s website and at Cuisinart stores, the ice cream maker “makes every scoop a celebration,” according to the brand’s website. Alongside the product drop, Cuisinart released four red, white and blue-inspired ice cream recipes: stars and stripes sorbet, patriotic vanilla protein, bold 250 blast and boardwalk berry pie.(Photo credit: Cuisinart, used with permission)Hilton maps out a 250-point road trip experienceHotel chain Hilton launched 250-point road trip experiences to spotlight the “most aspirational and experience-driven moments across the U.S.” as part of its Hilton Honors America Experiences campaign, which includes VIP festivals and build-your-own cross country experiences.The campaign’s first come, first served experiences are available for 250 Hilton Honors points, with Hilton Hampton stays and gas included along the way, according to a brand statement. The 14 experiences include an “ultimate pursuit of happiness” build-your-own open road adventure, a July 4th “celebrating America” trip to Washington, DC,, and meet-and-greet concert tickets to country musician Lainey Wilson’s August concert in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo credit: Hilton, used with permission)Coca-Cola celebrates America250 until the end of 2026From scannable cups to the PGA Tour Championship, official America250 sponsor Coca-Cola is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary until the end of 2026. Along with a Drink in America campaign – launched with a 3-minute spot showing farmers, fishers and singers refreshing themselves with a Coca-Cola – the brand released America250-branded cans and its first-ever collectible mini cans. America250’s partnership with Coca-Cola will be present at events including NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 and WAWA 250; along with at music festivals and professional sporting events throughout the year. Fans can scan cups at participating restaurants for Drink in America prizes and deals, designed to be a “summer-long journey” that unlocks “a piece of the nation’s authentic spirit,” according to a Coca-Cola statement.Mountain Dew travels back to 1948Mountain Dew, which was founded in 1948 by two brothers in Tennessee, celebrated its brand history with its limited-edition commemorative can bundle inspired by the soda’s original bottle design, launched on June 22.The bundle is available on TikTok Shop for $0.05 – the original Mountain Dew price – until July 1. The brand released social spots to take fans back in time to when Mountain Dew was founded with the slogan, “Tasting great since ‘48.”Albertsons issues a Declaration of the End of HungerSupermarket and pharmacy chain Albertsons launched a social cause campaign to drive awareness about ending hunger. The PSA film, titled “Feed This,” is scored with Bob Dylan song “Wigwam,” with permission from the artist, and highlights the importance of nourishment to live out the American dream.In addition to the film, Albertsons will post a full-page Declaration of the End of Hunger ad – modeled after The Declaration of Independence – in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes in early July. The Albertsons Company Foundation worked with independent agency Standard Practice for the campaign, which includes OOH, social and radio ads; and with 250 nonprofit organizations for its Nourish the Dream fundraising effort, according to a company statement.Busch Light donates to American farmersBusch Light is supporting American farmers and urging customers to “choose beer grown here” with the re-release of its limited-edition Farming Cans.The Farming Cans don a “special patriotic design honoring the hardworking people of American agriculture,” according to a Busch Light statement. The beer brand is donating up to $200,000 from Farming Can sales to Farm Rescue – a nonprofit providing critical aid to family farms and ranches across the Midwest.To date, Busch Light has raised over $1.3 million and helped 1,300 families through its partnership with Farm Rescue, according to a brand statement. Fans can grab a Farming Can at Anheuser-Busch’s new ComBar, a mobile bar made from a combine harvester that will visit state fairs and agricultural events throughout the summer.This story first appeared on PRWeek U.S.