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Anheuser-Busch ranked among nation’s top companies by Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility.

Washington, D.C. (June 16, 1999) — Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. is one of only seventeen Fortune 1000 corporations listed in the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility’s (HACR) top ratings regarding Hispanic representation on their board of directors. The recognition is a result of HACR’s study on Hispanic involvement in top corporate management positions, and number of Hispanics appointed to Boards of Director, which was released last month. The rankings were announced by HACR President, Richard J. Bela, in Washington, D.C. and Jesus Rangel, Vice President, Corporate Relations for the Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. of St. Louis, MO, and board member of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., brewers of Budweiser and Bud Light beers.

"We are pleased to be listed among these fine companies and are proud of our 100 years plus of involvement with the Hispanic community," said Rangel. "We are as committed today as ever to increasing the level of Hispanic involvement in all aspects of our operations," he added.

According to Rangel, being recognized again by HACR is a major triumph, as it concentrates its activities on identifying U.S. corporations that actively support initiatives aimed at the Hispanic community. In 1997, Anheuser-Busch received the "Corporate Vision" award from HACR at Columbia University for its efforts. Through on-going, comprehensive research, the coalition of the nation’s major community-based organizations collects data and publishes reports on key issues affecting U.S. Hispanics, such as employment, procurement, and philanthropy.

"The purpose of this study was to publicly recognize Hispanics serving on Fortune 1000 corporate boards and celebrate their accomplishments," said Bela. "Through these ratings, we also acknowledge those corporations that involve Hispanics in governance and deserve goodwill from our community," he added.

Among Anheuser-Busch Companies’ board members are Carlos Fernandez of Mexico and Vilma Martinez of Los Angeles, CA, a past president of the Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund and one of the first Hispanics–and Latinas–to be named to the board of a "blue chip" U.S. corporation in 1983.

In 1984, Jesse Aguirre was named to the Anheuser-Busch, Inc. board of directors. Rangel whose Corporate Relations department is charged with building positive relations with the nation’s rapidly-growing Hispanic consumer market, currently serves on the A-BI Board of Directors and is an alternate board member on the Modelo Brewing Company of Mexico–an affiliate of the Anheuser-Busch Companies.

Anheuser-Busch is the recognized pioneer in Hispanic cause-related marketing and has one of the more enviable track records in corporate contributions related to the Hispanic consumer market. It was recognized in the HACR Philanthropy study as being the only Fortune 500 company that has historically contributed to all eleven of the national Hispanic organizations that constitute HACR’s board of directors. The company has demonstrated its commitment to supporting Latino projects in areas like: higher education, leadership and economic development, and cultural arts, to name a few.

With over 24,000 employees world-wide and 850 independent beer wholesalers, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. is the world’s largest brewer and one of the largest theme park operators in the U.S. It is also the nation’s second-largest manufacturer of aluminum beverage containers. To learn more about Anheuser-Busch’s efforts in the Latino community visit the Anheuser-Busch Corporate Relations web site at www.hispanicbud.com.

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. is one of the Fortune 1000 corporations listed among the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility's (HACR) ranking of companies with Hispanics on their board of directors. This is the second major recognition of Anheuser-Busch by HACR. In 1997, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Chairman of the Board and President August A. Busch, III, (right) accepted the "Corporate Vision" award from HACR President Richard J. Bela (left) and Board Chairman Antonio "Gil" Morales (center). This year's recognition is a result of HACR's study on Hispanic involvement in top corporate management positions and number of Latinos appointed to Boards of Director. The results were released last month in Miami, FL. during HACR's annual Symposium on Corporate Responsibility.

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