LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL
VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL BUILDS ON BREWER'S 100+ YEAR HISTORY
OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES HIT BY NATURAL DISASTERS
ST.
LOUIS, July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the
sixth consecutive year, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler
partners are teaming up with the National Volunteer Fire Council
(NVFC) to deliver emergency drinking water to volunteer fire
departments across the country, including more than 9,400 cans to
four fire departments across Florida. The continued partnership builds on
the brewer's longstanding history of showing up for its communities
and demonstrates its deep appreciation for the first responders who
help to keep them safe.
Across the country, 65 percent of firefighters — typically the
first line of defense in local emergencies — are volunteers, often
with limited department budgets for critical supplies.
Anheuser-Busch's water donations allow these departments to free up
limited resources for other expenses or equipment needed to keep
their force prepared to respond to any emergency or
disaster. Produced and canned by Anheuser-Busch breweries,
more than 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water will be
distributed to over 630 volunteer fire departments across 44 states
throughout the summer as part of the brewer's larger effort to
promote disaster preparedness nationwide.
"Our continued partnership with the NVFC and volunteer
firefighters across the country embodies the rich heritage of
Anheuser-Busch and our commitment and long-standing track record of
supporting our communities when they need us most - because that's
who we are," said Cesar Vargas,
Chief External Affairs Officer at Anheuser-Busch. "Along with
our wholesaler partners, Anheuser-Busch is honored to leverage our
production, packaging and logistics capabilities to assist the
firefighters who lead with courage to protect us every time they're
called upon."
In Florida, the donations of
emergency drinking water will be made to four volunteer fire
departments including Southwest Volunteer Fire Department,
Crescent City FIRE Rescue,
Interlachen Area Volunteer Fire
Department, and Baker Fire District.
"Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding history of providing support
for disaster relief and preparedness," said Chad Bonner, Equity Agreement Manager at The
Lewis Bear Company. "We are grateful to be a partner in this
effort and use our distribution network to bring volunteer
firefighters the resources they need."
Anheuser-Busch has been providing support for disaster relief
efforts dating back to 1906, in partnership with the American Red
Cross. With an increased focus on disaster preparedness, the brewer
started its partnership with the NVFC in 2019 and, together with
its wholesaler partners, has delivered nearly 9 million cans of
clean, safe drinking water to more than 2,000 volunteer fire
departments across 49 states.
"We're excited to continue our long-standing partnership with
Anheuser-Busch to support local VFDs across the nation with
emergency drinking water," said NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch. "This vital resource assures
that firefighters are able to safely protect themselves and our
towns year-round."
Anheuser-Busch's breweries in Cartersville, Georgia and Fort Collins, Colorado periodically pause beer
production each year to can clean, safe emergency drinking water to
support disaster relief efforts. Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch has
donated more than 93 million cans of clean drinking water to U.S.
communities affected by natural disasters and other crises,
including over 100,000 cans to aid Hurricane Idalia relief in
Florida last August.
Learn more about the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland
Firefighters Program at www.nvfc.org/water.
ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH
At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more
cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life's
moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a
meaningful impact in the world. We hope to build a future that
everyone can celebrate, and everyone can share. For more than 165
years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing
great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers
for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120
facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers,
agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than
18,000 colleagues across the United States.
We are home to several of America's most loved beer and beyond
beer brands, including Michelob ULTRA, Cutwater Spirits, Stella
Artois, Budweiser and Bud Light as well as a number of regional
brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting
craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and
emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading
sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment
to supporting the communities we call home. For more information,
visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch
on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit
membership association representing the interests of the volunteer
fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as
the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides
critical advocacy, resources, programs, and education for first
responders across the nation. Learn more at
www.nvfc.org.
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SOURCE Anheuser-Busch