May 29, 2019 – This week, Anheuser-Busch will deliver approximately 300,000 cans of emergency drinking water to 26 of the country’s volunteer fire departments, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), to provide critical hydration to first responders in advance of wildfire season.
Anheuser-Busch announced the expansion of its 30-year-old emergency drinking water program in April, and has committed to donating one million cans of clean drinking water in support of volunteer fire departments in 2019.
“Eighty-three percent of the nation’s fire departments, which protect our communities from hazards of all kinds, are all- or mostly-volunteer,” said Steve Hirsch, Chair of the NVFC. “Funding for needed resources is a constant challenge for many of these departments, making this donation even more important as it directly supports the health and safety of our firefighters and the communities they serve.”
To officially kick off the expanded program, the brewer has worked closely with the NVFC to identify and select some of the most vulnerable markets across the country to receive this initial water delivery to help prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.
“As the country faces more natural disasters, like wildfires, preparation plays a major role in ensuring fire departments across the country have the resources they need to protect their friends and neighbors,” said Adam Warrington, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Anheuser-Busch. “In the same way we have utilized our production strengths to can water throughout the year to support our communities at a moment's notice, these water donations – in advance of wildfire season – will provide critical hydration to help our nation’s volunteer firefighters stand ready for our communities in times of need.”
The program will also implement a rapid-response approach to support volunteer departments nationwide actively fighting wildfires throughout the year. Starting in June, volunteer fire departments across the U.S. will be able to request Anheuser-Busch emergency drinking water through the NVFC for their immediate or upcoming wildfire response needs. Additional information will be available at www.nvfc.org/water.
Through their local wholesaler partners, and in connection with the NVFC, Anheuser-Busch will be delivering emergency drinking water to the following volunteer fire departments this week:
● Arizona: Pinal Rural Fire & Medical District (Mammoth, AZ)
● Arizona: Hayden Volunteer Fire Department (Hayden, AZ)
● California: Mi Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District (Twain Harte, CA)
● California: Suisun City Firefighters Association Inc. (Suisun City, CA)
● California: Graton Fire Department (Sebastopol, CA)
● California: Geyserville Volunteer Firefighters Association (Geyserville, CA)
● Colorado: Southwest Washington County Fire Protection District (Anton, CA)
● Colorado: Brush Volunteer Fire Department (Brush, CO)
● Colorado: Hillrose Snyder Volunteer Fire Department (Hillrose, CO)
● Idaho: Donnelly Rural Fire Protection District (Donnelly, ID)
● Iowa: Harlan Fire Department (Harlan, IA)
● Kansas: Girard Fire Department (Girard, KS)
● Kansas: Linn County Rural Fire Department (Pleasanton, KS)
● Massachusetts: Carver Fire Department (Carver, MA)
● Montana: South Kalispell Volunteer Fire Department (Kaispell, MT)
● Nebraska: Chadron Volunteer Fire Department (Chadron, NE)
● Nevada: Lovelock Volunteer Fire Department (Lovelock, NV)
● New Hampshire: Brookline Fire Department (Brookline, NH)
● Oklahoma: Darwin Volunteer Fire Department (Antlers, OK)
● Oklahoma: Konawa Volunteer Fire Department (Konawa, OK)
● Oregon: Ontario Fire & Rescue (Ontario, OR)
● South Dakota: Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department (Rapid City, SD)
● Texas: Hallsville Volunteer Fire Department (Hallsville, TX)
● Texas: Edinburg Fire Department (Edinburg, TX)
● Washington: Grant County Fire District 3 (Quincy, WA)
● Wyoming: Goose Valley Fire Department (Sheridan, WY)
Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding tradition of providing emergency drinking water and supplies for disaster relief efforts in partnership with the American Red Cross. Every year, the brewer periodically pauses beer production to can emergency drinking water, to be ready to lend a helping hand during natural disasters and other crises. Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch and their wholesaler partners have provided more than 80 million cans of water to U.S. communities affected by natural disasters nationwide.
ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH
For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has been woven into the cultural fabric of the United States, carrying on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate 23 breweries, 14 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, 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 invaluable advocacy, resources, programs, and education for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
