TPA x Cigar Army —
A Partnership Built on More Than Shared Passion
The Tobacco Products Association exists to serve the community that built this industry — the retailers, manufacturers, enthusiasts and professionals who have given their careers to the leaf. That community has never been defined by what it sells. It has always been defined by who it is. And who it is, at its best, shows up for people who need it.
That is exactly why the TPA has named Cigar Army its charity of record.
This is not a promotional alignment or a seasonal campaign. It is a deliberate, considered decision to put the weight of the TPA community behind an organization that is doing the work quietly, consistently and without waiting for recognition. Cigar Army's Operation Giveback has directed more than $19,300 toward Veterans, Active Military, First Responders and their families since 2023 — and they are not close to finished.
The cigar world attracts a particular kind of person. Generous. Principled. Dedicated. The kind of person who understands that a good smoke is better shared and that a community worth belonging to gives more than it takes. The TPA has seen that character in its own membership since day one, and we see it reflected completely in what Chris Puglia, Frank Curto and Rich Cooper have built.
We are proud to stand behind this mission. We encourage every TPA member, every event attendee and every corner of this industry we are honored to serve to read what follows, understand what Operation Giveback is doing and find a way to be part of it.
The leaf brought us together. What we do with that community is what defines us.
— The Tobacco Products Association
They Served Without Hesitation. Now It's Our Turn.
Every shift a First Responder works is a blank check written to whoever needs them. Every deployment a service member accepts is a promise made before the terms are even known. Cigar Army was built around one simple belief: that kind of sacrifice demands more than a thank-you. It demands action.
Who We Are
Cigar Army was founded in 2023 by three guys who share two things in common: a deep love of cigars and an even deeper respect for those who serve. Chris "Pugz" Puglia brings 27 years in law enforcement. Frank "Grumpy" Curto has spent 28 years as a union Operating Engineer. Rich "Coop" Cooper carries nearly 30 years as a licensed electrician. Between them, they have seen what sacrifice actually looks like up close, and they refused to let that go unacknowledged.
What started as a community of like-minded cigar enthusiasts has grown into a recognized charitable organization with members spread across the country, all rallying around the same mission
The Gap Nobody Talks About
Veterans return from service and quietly fall through the cracks. First Responders work careers that erode their bodies and spirits, often without adequate support waiting on the other side. Families carry burdens that never make the news. The organizations built to help these men and women do critical work, but they depend on communities willing to show up consistently, not just on holidays.
That gap is real, and it is wide. Cigar Army exists to help close it.
Operation Giveback — Our Mission in Motion
Operation Giveback is the fundraising and outreach engine of Cigar Army. Since 2023, we have directed over $19,300 toward organizations that provide direct, meaningful support to Veterans, Active Military, First Responders and their families.
Organizations We Are Proud to Support
• Toys for Tots — Cigar Army is a National Corporate Donor, our primary fundraising commitment each year
• Tunnel to Towers Foundation — providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families
• Service Dogs for Vets — connecting combat Veterans with trained service dogs that change lives
• Primum Non Nocere Foundation — supporting first responders and military families facing crisis
• Smaller families and local groups that need resources and visibility, not just awareness
That list will grow. The need does not shrink, and neither does our resolve.
What We Have Built Together
Operation Giveback is the fundraising and outreach engine of Cigar Army. Since 2023, we have directed over $19,300 toward organizations that provide direct, meaningful support to Veterans, Active Military, First Responders and their families.
Organizations We Are Proud to Support
• Toys for Tots — Cigar Army is a National Corporate Donor, our primary fundraising commitment each year
• Tunnel to Towers Foundation — providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families
• Service Dogs for Vets — connecting combat Veterans with trained service dogs that change lives
• Primum Non Nocere Foundation — supporting first responders and military families facing crisis
• Smaller families and local groups that need resources and visibility, not just awareness
That list will grow. The need does not shrink, and neither does our resolve.
What We Have Built Together
$19,300+
Raised since inception across fundraisers, community events and direct donations.
3 Years Running
Founded in 2023, consistently growing our reach, our partnerships and our impact every single year.
National Corporate Donor
Recognized by Toys for Tots at the national corporate level — a distinction earned through consistent community action, not words.
A New Chapter: Haze Gray Cigars
We recently announced a formal partnership with Haze Gray Cigars that will extend the reach of Operation Giveback in ways we have been working toward since day one. This collaboration brings new resources, broader visibility and access to places this mission has always deserved to reach. We are not finished growing, and neither is this program
The Cigar Community Makes This Possible
The cigar world has a generosity that runs as deep as its passion. Brick-and-mortar retailers, boutique manufacturers, accessory brands and individual members have all donated their time, their product and their dollars to help us reach our goals. We do not take a single contribution for granted.
When you support a Cigar Army fundraiser, you are not writing a check and walking away. You are joining a community of proud supporters who understand that appreciation without action is just sentiment
What We Accept at Every Fundraiser
Premium cigars from any brand or region
Cigar accessories — cutters, lighters, humidors and travel cases
Brick-and-mortar gift certificates
Member cash donations in any amount
The Faces Behind the Mission
Chris "Pugz" Puglia — Co-Founder
Pugz has been smoking cigars since the 1980s and working in law enforcement for 27 years. He is the proprietor of HonJo's Place, a home-based cigar lounge, and crafts custom cedar-lined travel humidors under the name El Bloppo Designs. Cigars, community and giving back are not separate interests for Pugz — they are the same sentence.
Frank "Grumpy" Curto — Co-Founder
Frank graduated from St. John's University in 1991 and has spent 28 years as an Operating Engineer for Local 94 in New York City. He discovered cigars in 2020 and has not looked back. Full-bodied, Maduro-forward smokes are his territory. Outside of Cigar Army he runs Ranger Proud, a New York Rangers blog on Facebook and X.
Rich "Coop" Cooper — Co-Founder
Coop is a licensed electrician with close to 30 years of experience, a charter bus dispatcher, a whiskey enthusiast and a dedicated collector of Jack Daniel's memorabilia. He has been enjoying cigars for over 15 years and brings the same commitment to Operation Giveback that he brings to everything else — all the way in.
"There is no way to ever repay those who have sacrificed before us or those who continue to sacrifice to this day. The work we do through Operation Giveback is our way of showing our appreciation and saying thank you." - Pugz
"The Cigar Army has allowed me to help those who may be down on their luck. It's extremely fulfilling to see our hard work pay off."
-Grumpy
"Cigar Army and Operation Give Back mean the world to me for the fact of knowing that we're doing our part to take care of those who have been taking care of us around the clock."
-Coop
Ready to Be Part of This?
You do not have to be a veteran to show up for one. You do not have to be a first responder to stand behind them. You just have to decide that their service matters enough to do something about it.
Join Cigar Army. Donate to Operation Giveback. Bring a box to the next fundraiser. Every contribution, every shared post and every dollar raised tells the men and women we support that their sacrifice did not go unnoticed.
Join TPA and Cigar Army Today!
Cigar Army | Operation Giveback | cigararmy.org
Cigar Army is a charitable organization headquartered in the cigar community, proudly supporting Veterans, Active Military, First Responders and families in need through our Operation Giveback initiative. We are National Corporate Donors to Toys for Tots and proud supporters of Tunnel to Towers, Service Dogs for Vets, Primum Non Nocere Foundation and more. Join us at cigararmy.org.
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