Anheuser-Busch Marks the Start of National Preparedness Month with a Salute to First Responders, Employees, and Partners

St. Louis, MO – August 28, 2023 – Today, Anheuser-Busch released the latest chapter in its “That’s Who We Are” campaign with a tribute to the dedicated network of employees, partners, and first responders who support local communities in times of need. Launching in time for National Preparedness Month in September, the new “We Can’t Predict. We Can Prepare.” spot builds on Anheuser-Busch’s 35-year commitment to disaster relief efforts. This ad spotlights those who bring its emergency drinking water program to life and the courageous partners and first responders who serve communities on the front lines.

“Anheuser-Busch’s identity is rooted in being there for our neighbors when it’s needed most – that’s who we are,” said Brendan Whitworth, CEO, Anheuser-Busch. “For 35 years, we have worked together with great partners to produce and distribute clean, safe drinking water to people and communities impacted by emergencies and natural disasters. This program is deeply meaningful to our employees because it is a unique and important way we help enable the work our first responders do to keep our communities safe.”

Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding tradition of providing support for disaster relief efforts through its partnership with the American Red Cross that dates back to 1906. This partnership expanded in 1988 with the founding of the emergency drinking water program. Cumulatively, the company, its wholesaler partners and the American Red Cross have delivered more than 90 million cans of clean drinking water to U.S. communities affected by natural disasters and other crises since the program’s inception.

"The American Red Cross is there whenever disaster strikes and, for the last 35 years and beyond, Anheuser-Busch has stood right beside us any time we’ve called,” said Anne McKeough, chief development officer for the American Red Cross. “Their employees and wholesalers embody what it means to be a good neighbor, and we deeply appreciate their ongoing support of our mission and feel fortunate to count them as a partner.”

Anheuser-Busch also partners with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to provide emergency drinking water to volunteer firefighters battling wildfires across the country. Since 2019, over nine million cans of water have been donated to nearly 2,500 departments across 49 states. Today, the water is sourced from Anheuser-Busch’s breweries in Cartersville, Georgia and Fort Collins, Colorado, which periodically pause beer production to can emergency drinking water to support disaster relief efforts.

“We are proud to partner with Anheuser-Busch to make sure our wildland firefighters have the water they need to stay hydrated and functioning at their best,” said NVFC chair Steve Hirsch. “Hydration is critical to the health and safety of firefighters, and we thank Anheuser-Busch for recognizing and addressing this critical need for our nation’s volunteer responders.”

Launching in local markets across the country, the new “We Can’t Predict. We Can Prepare.” ad will air throughout September to honor the team that’s always prepared to ensure clean, safe drinking water is ready to distribute in times of need. The ad showcases the work Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers do alongside their partners who are on the front lines, ensuring critical supplies get to hard-to-reach places following natural disasters. The new spot also shares a behind-the-scenes look at the process required to produce, can and deliver the water and features a variety of people and roles, from brewmaster to technician and line worker to delivery driver, united by a passion to give back to the first responders who step in and step up when disaster strikes.

“It’s an honor to work alongside Anheuser-Busch to deliver emergency drinking water directly to our local first responders,” said Win Stewart, CEO, Bibb Distributing. “Showing up in times of need is what being part of a community means, and as a member of our Macon community for over 66 years, we’re proud to be a part of this campaign that shows the real people that work tirelessly to produce and deliver critical resources in times of emergency.” 

“Our team in Cartersville is humbled to be able to leverage our production capabilities to produce emergency drinking water for our friends and neighbors when they need it most,” said Jennifer Logan, General Manager, Anheuser-Busch Cartersville Brewery. “We have over 500 full time and part time employees here at Anheuser-Busch’s Cartersville Brewery, and while we have much to be proud of, nothing brings this team more pride than being able to show up alongside the heroes of our communities in Georgia and across the country.”

“We hope the launch of the ‘We Can’t Predict. We Can Prepare.” advertising just ahead of National Preparedness Month will bring more awareness to the importance of planning ahead and preparing for natural disasters,” said Cesar Vargas, U.S. Chief External Affairs Officer, Anheuser-Busch. “Our commitment to local communities and to first responders is ingrained in our heritage. Through our emergency drinking water program, Anheuser-Busch stands ready to help our neighbors, friends, and family in times of need.”

Learn more about Anheuser-Busch’s disaster relief efforts here. For more on Anheuser-Busch’s “That’s Who We Are” campaign, visit www.anheuser-busch.com/thats-who-we-are or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

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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.