College Bound Receives $250,000 Gift from Anheuser-Busch

Donation to Benefit St. Louis Area Students’ Pursuits of a College Education

ST. LOUIS (Aug. 14, 2009) – College Bound, a not-for-profit organization in St. Louis dedicated to giving promising, motivated high-school students the chance to enroll and succeed in college, has received a $250,000 donation from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation.

College Bound was created in 2006 to provide high-school students from under-resourced backgrounds with the academic enrichment, life skills and social supports needed to succeed in four-year colleges.  It is the only program in the St. Louis region with a year-round curriculum that includes career exposure, community engagement, test preparation and academic enrichment to ensure students not only attend, but graduate from college.

“Through the generosity of companies like Anheuser-Busch, College Bound can continue giving aspiring students opportunities for educational and social development,” said Lisa Orden Zarin, founder and executive director of College Bound.  “This gift will ensure our programs benefit even more students in the St. Louis area and help fulfill their dreams of attending and graduating from college.”

Anheuser-Busch’s donation will support 75 students who are new to the program this year with college preparatory curriculum and academic materials.  College Bound serves 300 students and operates in four high schools in the St. Louis area – Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, Roosevelt High School, Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School and University City High School.  Each student in College Bound’s 2008 class earned acceptance to and enrolled in four-year colleges or universities.

“Anheuser-Busch places an importance on education, so when the College Bound program first launched, we were eager to support the group’s goal of helping students succeed in college and beyond,” said Laura Reeves, senior director, Foundation and Corporate Giving, at Anheuser-Busch.  “We’re committed to assisting vital community organizations like College Bound, and we’re proud to help enrich these students’ lives and contribute to their futures.”

In addition to the donation, Anheuser-Busch invited more than 50 College Bound high-school students to the company’s headquarters for a Career Day today.  As part of the event, executives from Anheuser-Busch shared insights into the corporate world, discussed possible career paths for College Bound students and explained what characteristics and skills companies like Anheuser-Busch look for in potential employees.

About College Bound
Founded in 2006, the mission of College Bound is to provide promising high school students from under-resourced backgrounds with the academic enrichment, social supports and life skills needed to apply, matriculate and succeed in four year colleges.  For more information, visit www.collegeboundstl.org.

About Anheuser-Busch
For more than 100 years, Anheuser Busch, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, and the Anheuser Busch Foundation have reached out to groups in need, contributing to community organizations across the country and touching countless individual lives. During the past decade alone, the company and its foundation have donated more than $370 million to charitable organizations, including those that support education, economic development and environmental conservation. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.