Six Keep America Beautiful (KAB) affiliates were selected from a nationwide field of nearly 40 entries for the Keep America Beautiful/Anheuser-Busch Environmental Grant Program, which announced winners today. The KAB/Anheuser-Busch Environmental Grants awarded $50,000 in total to programs sponsored by the following KAB affiliates: "Keep Casper Beautiful" (Casper, Wyo.); "Keep Nassau Beautiful" (Fernandina Beach, Fla.); "Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful" (Port Allen, La.); "Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful" (West Palm Beach, Fla.); "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful - Southwest" (Greensburg, Pa.) and "Keep Phoenix Beautiful" (Phoenix, Ariz.).

The grant applicants were matched up with their local Anheuser-Busch wholesalers to support a variety of environmental programs, including increasing awareness of the need to recycle beverage containers and providing infrastructure to do so.

"We want to congratulate these six Keep America Beautiful affiliates and their local Anheuser-Busch wholesalers who have been selected from so many worthy candidates from across the country," said Hugh Share, director of environmental sustainability for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "Local recycling efforts, such as these, are making a lasting impact on protecting our environment for future generations and Anheuser-Busch is proud to support these initiatives."

Local Environmental Programs Receive Grants from A-B & KAB

The grants will help support the following programs:

• "Keep Casper Beautiful"/Casper Beverage – Platte River Revival Volunteer Day
• "Keep Nassau Beautiful"/North Florida Sales – Fernandina Beach Park Recycling Program
• "Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful"/Mockler Beverage Company – Don't Crawfish Backward, Recycle Forward Program
• "Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful"/Brown Distributing Company – Boaters Recycling Program
• "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful - Southwest"/ Fuhrer Wholesale – Illegal Dump Cleanups in Washington County, Pa.
• "Keep Phoenix Beautiful"/Hensley Beverage Company – Special event recycling program

"We want to thank Anheuser-Busch for their continued support of our local Keep America Beautiful affiliates," said Matt McKenna, president and CEO of KAB. "The partnerships between our affiliates and Anheuser-Busch's wholesalers have truly made an impact in promoting recycling and the responsible disposal of used beverage containers."

About Anheuser-Busch

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 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. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

Local Environmental Programs Receive Grants from A-B & KAB

About Keep America Beautiful

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For additional information, visit www.kab.org.

SOURCE Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.kab.org/

Today Jim Beam® Bourbon, the world's No. 1-selling Bourbon, kicks off "Salute Soldiers with the Spirit of America," a program designed to welcome home the troops returning from tours of duty, support those still on duty overseas, and give service members and their friends memorable experiences throughout the year.

As part of the program, Jim Beam® Bourbon has launched a contest in which those of legal drinking age may nominate service members who are 21 years of age or older for a chance to win VIP, legendary experiences at a high-profile sporting or music event. To help announce the contest, Jim Beam® Bourbon and military charity Operation Homefront® have teamed up and invited select soldiers and their buddies to experience the biggest football game of the year in person, and to provide an example of the types of VIP packages contest entrants will have the opportunity to win.

Through June 21, friends and families of the troops can submit nominations of up to 250 words, in English, at www.jimbeam.com or the Jim Beam Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/jimbeam) describing why their friend or family member in the military deserves to be honored by Jim Beam(1).

The Grand Prize winners and their nominees will receive special treatment and exclusive access to one of the following events:

• The famous thoroughbred stakes race at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2010 as well as a visit to the Jim Beam distillery and a VIP bourbon tasting and meal with Fred Noe, seventh-generation Jim Beam distiller and great-grandson of Jim Beam.
• The final two days of a major golf championship at Pebble Beach on June 19 and 20, 2010.
• A home game for a professional baseball team on Chicago's South Side on July 10, 2010.
• A Kid Rock concert and the opportunity to meet Kid Rock in 2010.

Additionally, Americans can show their support by simply texting the word SALUTE to 90999 to add $5 to their phone bills as a donation to Operation Homefront(2), a nonprofit organization providing emergency and morale assistance to troops, to the families they leave behind while they serve, and to wounded warriors when they return home. They can also share their own virtual toasts (or personal messages) on the Jim Beam Facebook fan page.

Jim Beam and Operation Homefront

Jim Beam is initiating the opportunity for troops to experience these extraordinary events with a trip to the biggest football game of the year. The participating soldiers, nominated randomly through Operation Homefront, were selected to help announce the contest based on their character, integrity and desire to bond with a friend/family member at the game.

"At Jim Beam we want to ensure that returning soldiers' welcome home is not only memorable, but that it includes exciting experiences shared with family and friends," said Kelly Doss, senior director of bourbon and whiskeys, Beam Global. "By giving returning soldiers the chance to enjoy great times with loved ones we hope they'll learn just how much we appreciate the sacrifices they've made on America's behalf."

Jim Beam will continue its commitment to Operation Homefront, as well, with an initial donation this year of $150,000 to the organization. Most recently Jim Beam distributed 50,000 cases of a commemorative Operation Homefront bottle to help raise awareness of the organization. To learn more about the Jim Beam relationship with Operation Homefront, please visit www.jimbeam.com/partnerships/operation-homefront.  

"Opportunities like this mean a lot to our troops, who put themselves in harm's way on our behalf," said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of Operation Homefront. "As part of Team USA, they love being able to cheer on the teams at the biggest football game of the year! I applaud Jim Beam for its steadfast support of our nation's military."

Jim Beam is committed to social responsibility and advises legal purchase age consumers to drink smart®. Through drinksmart.com, Beam Global educates legal purchase age consumers about how to make responsible choices about alcohol.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine

Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, Teacher's® Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper® Cordials and Liqueurs and Knob Creek® Bourbon. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company recently named one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront® provides emergency and morale assistance for our troops, the families they leave behind and to wounded warriors when they return home. A nonprofit 501(c)(3), Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers in 30 chapters nationwide, and has provided critical assistance to more than 45,000 military families in need. Operation Homefront also hosts the Web community Operation Homefront Online. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net and www.homefrontonline.com.

Jim Beam® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol.

©2010 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.

(1)  No purchase necessary. Must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or D.C. (except CA) and 21 years of age or older to participate. Void where prohibited. Subject to complete official rules, available at www.JimBeam.com or www.Facebook.com/JimBeam. Contest started February 2, 2010 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET"). On-line entries must be transmitted and received by June 21, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Enter online at www.JimBeam.com or www.Facebook.com/JimBeam.

(2)  A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. You will also receive up to 1 message per day from Operation Homefront Alerts. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of Operation Homefront by the mGive Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mGive.com/A. To unsubscribe text STOP to 90999, for help text HELP to 90999.

Contact: Fallon O'Connor, +1-312-240-2884, fallon.oconnor@edelman.com.

SOURCE Beam Global Spirits & Wine

RELATED LINKS
http://www.jimbeam.com
http://www.beamglobal.com

While race fans gear up for one of the biggest spectacles of the season at Daytona International Speedway®, the makers of Crown Royal Canadian whisky, a subsidiary of Diageo plc (NYSE: DEO), today announced fans will also have the opportunity to choose one of America's true heroes to receive naming rights to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2010.

As part of the Crown Royal "Your Name Here" 400 contest, five finalists from various branches of the armed services have been selected to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Daytona to participate in a special ceremony to unveil the grand-prize winner, as well as attend the historic Daytona 500. The finalists, in no specific order, are:

• Heath Calhoun, Army (retired), Clarksville, Tenn.
• Chris Dempsey, Army National Guard, Yuma, Ariz.
• Rick Hudson, Navy, Gulfport, Miss.
• Georgia Powell, Air National Guard, Harrisburg, Pa
• Brian Speach, Army National Guard, Clifton Park, N.Y.

Crown Royal begins the season as a primary sponsor of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford Fusion, driven by reigning Daytona 500 Champion Matt Kenseth. Along with all the activities surrounding the race in Richmond, Crown Royal will continue to fully integrate its "Please Drink Responsibly" messages into all of its NASCAR-themed initiatives, including its signature "Safe Rides Home" designated-driver event that has provided thousands of race fans rides home throughout the years.

This marks the first time in the four-year history of the Crown Royal "Your Name Here" program that only military service members were chosen as finalists. It also signifies the first time ever that fans will be able to cast their votes on www.crownroyal.com for whose name they think should be incorporated into the annual Cup Series event in Richmond. All the finalists were nominated by their family, friends or fellow soldiers for their ability to demonstrate the core values of the military in performing a selfless act that made them a hero.

"Crown Royal is fully committed to showing its support for military individuals that serve our country and the entitlement in Richmond is the perfect platform for us to elevate our support to the next level," said Rob Mason, Senior Brand Manager, Crown Royal. "This year's finalists are truly first-class individuals that have accomplished amazing feats while they were serving overseas or at-home. We look forward to recognizing all their achievements to ensure they truly feel like Royalty throughout their time in Daytona." 

Some of the selfless acts of this year's finalists include resuscitating a boy after drowning and helping to save a group of local nationals who were critically injured.  Fans of legal drinking age are encouraged to visit www.crownroyal.com to read a complete background on the finalists and to cast a vote. Voting ends on February 10, 2010. Media are invited to submit their individual votes to representatives of Crown Royal so they have their own voice in determining the winner.

"Richmond International Raceway couldn't be more excited to be a part of this program with Crown Royal each season," said Doug Fritz, President, Richmond International Raceway. "Allowing fans to select the winner is a great way for Crown Royal to highlight all the truly touching stories of this year's finalists. We look forward to honoring another amazing individual with everything we do during the race in May."

The winner will be announced from Daytona on February 12 with all the finalists, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth and representatives from Crown Royal and Richmond International Raceway in attendance.

About Crown Royal

Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the US by value and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. The Crown Royal Company is a primary sponsor of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford Fusion driven by Matt Kenseth. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com.

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).

For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About Richmond International Raceway

Richmond International Raceway, known as America's Premier Short Track, offers great night racing action and a commitment to the fan experience. One of the most popular facilities among drivers and fans in all of motorsports, Richmond International Raceway annually hosts two NASCAR Doubleheader weekends featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series under the lights on a ¾-mile D-Shaped oval. The unique layout traditionally produces exciting side-by-side racing, yet drivers reach high enough speeds for a superspeedway feel. Combined with first-class amenities and a focus on the fans, guests at Richmond International Raceway can expect to experience what "Racing Perfection" truly is. For tickets to events at Richmond International Raceway, call 866-455-RACE or visit www.rir.com online.

CROWN ROYAL Blended Canadian Whisky.  40% Alc./Vol. ©2010 The Crown Royal Company, Norwalk, CT.  PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

SOURCE Diageo

RELATED LINKS
http://www.crownroyal.com

It's anyone's guess who will win the game on Sunday, but among celebrities, athletes and other VIPs attending last night's GQ Pre-Bowl Bash in South Beach the choice was clear – it's the New Orleans Saints all the way!

Scores of Hollywood stars and top athletes walked the red carpet last evening to celebrate the start of the biggest weekend in sports. And as they entered the venue, the Surfcomber in Miami Beach, they were invited to debate which team they thought would deliver a "Simply Perfect" win on Sunday. For each vote cast, event sponsor Patron tequila made a donation to the St. Bernard Project, a non-profit organization in New Orleans dedicated to creating housing opportunities so that Hurricane Katrina survivors can return to their homes and communities. SBP can rebuild one house in 8-12 weeks for about $15,000. At the end of the evening, 63 percent of people chose the Saints, and 37 percent went for the Colts – and, most importantly, thousands of dollars were raised to help Louisiana families.

"Much has been celebrated that the Saints' bid for the championship is another sign that New Orleans is back on its feet," said Zack Rosenburg, who co-founded the St. Bernard Project with partner and 2008 CNN Hero of the Year Liz McCartney. "It's true, so much has been accomplished in the more than four years since the hurricanes, but it's important to realize there's still significantly more work to be done to help American families finally return to their badly devastated homes."

The St. Bernard Project (www.stbernardproject.org) is a community-based organization that began rebuilding homes in August 2006 that were damaged by floodwaters from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in St. Bernard Parish. In the Greater New Orleans area, more than 1,000 families live in FEMA trailers and more than 9,000 live in other forms of temporary housing. To date, the St. Bernard Project has rebuilt 262 homes in New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish with help from 19,000+ volunteers. Using volunteer labor, skilled supervisors and donations for building supplies, it takes an average of 12 weeks and $15,000 worth of materials to completely rebuild a house.

"The Patron Spirits Company has been a longtime supporter of the critical work of the St. Bernard Project," said Pam Dzierzanowski, Patron's national events director.  "Along with most all of my colleagues at the company, we've spent several weeks with Zack and Liz raising funds and contributing our time to help rebuild houses. We're honored that we could use this occasion to further help their important efforts."

"It's especially exciting that my New Orleans Saints won the vote last night, let's hope that's a harbinger of Sunday's outcome!" added Rosenburg.

Simply Perfect in every way, Patron is the world's highest-quality ultra-premium tequila. From the finest, most expensive Weber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patron is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. For information about The Patron Spirits Company and its portfolio of ultra-premium spirits (Patron tequilas, Pyrat rum and Ultimat vodka), visit www.patronspirits.com.

SOURCE The Patron Spirits Company

RELATED LINKS
http://www.stbernardproject.org
http://www.patronspirits.com

Six Keep America Beautiful (KAB) affiliates were selected from a nationwide field of nearly 40 entries for the Keep America Beautiful/Anheuser-Busch Environmental Grant Program, which announced winners today. The KAB/Anheuser-Busch Environmental Grants awarded $50,000 in total to programs sponsored by the following KAB affiliates: "Keep Casper Beautiful" (Casper, Wyo.); "Keep Nassau Beautiful" (Fernandina Beach, Fla.); "Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful" (Port Allen, La.); "Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful" (West Palm Beach, Fla.); "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful - Southwest" (Greensburg, Pa.) and "Keep Phoenix Beautiful" (Phoenix, Ariz.).

The grant applicants were matched up with their local Anheuser-Busch wholesalers to support a variety of environmental programs, including increasing awareness of the need to recycle beverage containers and providing infrastructure to do so.

"We want to congratulate these six Keep America Beautiful affiliates and their local Anheuser-Busch wholesalers who have been selected from so many worthy candidates from across the country," said Hugh Share, director of environmental sustainability for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "Local recycling efforts, such as these, are making a lasting impact on protecting our environment for future generations and Anheuser-Busch is proud to support these initiatives."

Local Environmental Programs Receive Grants from A-B & KAB

The grants will help support the following programs:

• "Keep Casper Beautiful"/Casper Beverage – Platte River Revival Volunteer Day
• "Keep Nassau Beautiful"/North Florida Sales – Fernandina Beach Park Recycling Program
• "Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful"/Mockler Beverage Company – Don't Crawfish Backward, Recycle Forward Program
• "Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful"/Brown Distributing Company – Boaters Recycling Program
• "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful - Southwest"/ Fuhrer Wholesale – Illegal Dump Cleanups in Washington County, Pa.
• "Keep Phoenix Beautiful"/Hensley Beverage Company – Special event recycling program

"We want to thank Anheuser-Busch for their continued support of our local Keep America Beautiful affiliates," said Matt McKenna, president and CEO of KAB. "The partnerships between our affiliates and Anheuser-Busch's wholesalers have truly made an impact in promoting recycling and the responsible disposal of used beverage containers."

About Anheuser-Busch

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 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. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

Local Environmental Programs Receive Grants from A-B & KAB

About Keep America Beautiful

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For additional information, visit www.kab.org.

SOURCE Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.kab.org/