For Immediate Release
March 21, 2007
Contact Information
Anheuser-Busch Communications
Pier Scott
314-577-9665
Pier.scott@anheuser-bush.com
ANHEUSER-BUSCH ASSISTS WATER CRISIS IN AFRICA, ANSWERS PLAYPUMPS INTERNATIONAL CALL TO ACTION
Beer Brewer’s Support Provides Clean Drinking Water for Thousands of People in 10 Communities
ST. LOUIS (March 21, 2007) – The statistics are sobering: more than a billion people worldwide lack access to clean water; every 15 seconds, a child dies of an illness related to unsafe drinking water. To help bring attention to this global crisis and relief to thousands of families in African nations, Anheuser-Busch has donated $140,000 to PlayPumps International (PPI) to build and maintain 10 PlayPump ™ water systems, an innovative pump powered by a merry-go-round. This donation supports the organization’s “100 Pumps in 100 Days” campaign, launched today to coincide with “World Water Day,” March 22.
The urgency of the global water crisis was brought to the company’s attention through its association with rap artist, businessman and Budweiser Select co-brand director Jay-Z. While on tour last year, Jay-Z pledged to help raise funds to build PlayPump systems as a creative solution to the world water crisis. Clean drinking water is an essential ingredient for making improvements in health, gender equality, education and economic development in many communities around the world.
“We applaud Anheuser-Busch’s generosity in making such an incredible impact on African communities,” said Jill Rademacher, president of PlayPumps International.
“Anheuser-Busch’s contribution of 10 PlayPump water systems is a great start to our ‘100 Pumps in 100 Days’ campaign. We hope their commitment will encourage others to learn more about the world’s water crisis.”
A PlayPump water system is a child’s merry-go-round attached to a water pump and a 660-gallon storage tank, making clean drinking water available to thousands of people in villages where water is scarce and or inaccessible. The 10 pumps provided by the Anheuser-Busch donation will be installed in several South African providences and other African nations and operating by the end of the summer. The support also includes maintenance of the 10 pumps for 10 years. PlayPumps selected 100 pumps because it is the minimum number of commitments required for the organization to enter into a new country.
“We strongly support the efforts of PlayPumps and Jay-Z to help bring clean water to semi-urban areas across Africa because it is such an essential element in sustaining good health,” said Johnny Furr, Jr., vice president, Urban Marketing and Community Outreach, Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. “These pumps turn child’s play into fresh water in communities where it’s currently so scarce. They will allow children, especially girls, the opportunity to attend school regularly and will give adults the chance to grow fresh vegetables to feed their families.”
Anheuser-Busch and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation have reached out to groups in need, contributing to community organizations across the United States and throughout the world touching countless individual lives. Over the past decade, the company and its charitable foundation have donated more than $360 million to charitable organizations, including those that support education, health care, the arts, cultural enrichment, social services and environmental conservation.
Anheuser-Busch is dedicated to improving the well-being of the communities in which its employees live and work and as such is committed to strengthening organizations that strive to enhance the quality of life in those communities.
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as World Water Day to promote public awareness of the global water crisis and solutions for conservation and development of water resource management. The U.N.’s Millennium Development Goal aims to provide access to safe drinking water to at least half the 1.1 billion people currently lacking this essential resource by 2015.
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.4 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country’s best-selling premium beer.
Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2007. Anheuser Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world’s largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.
PlayPumps International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to help improve the lives of children and their families by providing easy access to clean drinking water, enhancing public health, and offering play equipment to millions across Africa. To date, PlayPumps International has donated more than 800 PlayPumps water systems in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. In 2007 and beyond, PlayPumps International will help bring the systems to Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania, and Uganda. The organization’s goal is to provide the benefits of clean drinking water to up to 10 million people by 2010. For more information and images of the pumps, visit www.playpumps.org.
The urgency of the global water crisis was brought to the company’s attention through its association with rap artist, businessman and Budweiser Select co-brand director Jay-Z. While on tour last year, Jay-Z pledged to help raise funds to build PlayPump systems as a creative solution to the world water crisis. Clean drinking water is an essential ingredient for making improvements in health, gender equality, education and economic development in many communities around the world.
“We applaud Anheuser-Busch’s generosity in making such an incredible impact on African communities,” said Jill Rademacher, president of PlayPumps International.
“Anheuser-Busch’s contribution of 10 PlayPump water systems is a great start to our ‘100 Pumps in 100 Days’ campaign. We hope their commitment will encourage others to learn more about the world’s water crisis.”
A PlayPump water system is a child’s merry-go-round attached to a water pump and a 660-gallon storage tank, making clean drinking water available to thousands of people in villages where water is scarce and or inaccessible. The 10 pumps provided by the Anheuser-Busch donation will be installed in several South African providences and other African nations and operating by the end of the summer. The support also includes maintenance of the 10 pumps for 10 years. PlayPumps selected 100 pumps because it is the minimum number of commitments required for the organization to enter into a new country.
“We strongly support the efforts of PlayPumps and Jay-Z to help bring clean water to semi-urban areas across Africa because it is such an essential element in sustaining good health,” said Johnny Furr, Jr., vice president, Urban Marketing and Community Outreach, Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. “These pumps turn child’s play into fresh water in communities where it’s currently so scarce. They will allow children, especially girls, the opportunity to attend school regularly and will give adults the chance to grow fresh vegetables to feed their families.”
Anheuser-Busch and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation have reached out to groups in need, contributing to community organizations across the United States and throughout the world touching countless individual lives. Over the past decade, the company and its charitable foundation have donated more than $360 million to charitable organizations, including those that support education, health care, the arts, cultural enrichment, social services and environmental conservation.
Anheuser-Busch is dedicated to improving the well-being of the communities in which its employees live and work and as such is committed to strengthening organizations that strive to enhance the quality of life in those communities.
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as World Water Day to promote public awareness of the global water crisis and solutions for conservation and development of water resource management. The U.N.’s Millennium Development Goal aims to provide access to safe drinking water to at least half the 1.1 billion people currently lacking this essential resource by 2015.
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.4 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country’s best-selling premium beer.
Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2007. Anheuser Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world’s largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.
PlayPumps International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to help improve the lives of children and their families by providing easy access to clean drinking water, enhancing public health, and offering play equipment to millions across Africa. To date, PlayPumps International has donated more than 800 PlayPumps water systems in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. In 2007 and beyond, PlayPumps International will help bring the systems to Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania, and Uganda. The organization’s goal is to provide the benefits of clean drinking water to up to 10 million people by 2010. For more information and images of the pumps, visit www.playpumps.org.
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