YMCA of Greater St. Louis Receives $1 Million Commitment for Capital Expansion from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation

St. Louis, MO (May 15, 2007) - The YMCA of Greater St. Louis announced today a $1 million pledge from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation to support capital expansion throughout the St. Louis region. The announcement was made at the South City Family YMCA during a ceremony celebrating the long-standing relationship between Anheuser-Busch and the YMCA of Greater St. Louis. In honor of the gift, the South City Family YMCA aquatic center was rededicated the "Anheuser-Busch Aquatic Center."

"Anheuser-Busch's generosity through its charitable gifts has been instrumental in the YMCA's ability to provide critical programs and services to our community," said Gary Schlansker, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis. "Over the years, support from Anheuser-Busch has fueled dramatic growth in the YMCA's reach helping us grow to become one of the 10 largest YMCAs in the country serving more than 604,000 participants in YMCA programs."

The latest Anheuser-Busch gift is a lead gift to the YMCA's "Building a Stronger, Healthier Community" capital campaign. Planned capital projects include building expansions at five YMCA branches: Four Rivers Family YMCA, Jefferson County Family YMCA, South City Family YMCA, Wildwood Family YMCA and South County Family YMCA. Capital projects also include improvements at YMCA of the Ozark's Camp Lakewood and building a new YMCA facility to serve the growing population of Wentzville.

Anheuser-Busch and the YMCA of Greater St. Louis have both been making a difference in St. Louis for more than 150 years and have worked together on many projects to improve the health and well being of the community.

"At Anheuser-Busch, we firmly believe in giving back to the communities where we live and do business. It is truly an honor for us to work with an organization in our hometown that is committed to serving the needs of our neighbors," said Henry Dominguez, vice president of Latino Marketing for Anheuser-Busch Inc., and member of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Board of Directors. "Especially notable about the YMCA is its commitment to provide services to all, regardless of ability to pay. Supporting the YMCA is an opportunity to touch the lives of families and individuals who seek healthier lifestyles."

Previous support from Anheuser-Busch includes a $1 million gift to the 1985 campaign for which 10 Anheuser-Busch Cabins were named at the YMCA's Trout Lodge in Potosi. A second $1 million gift in 1996 helped the YMCA build five new branches and renovate 12 existing facilities. With the current gift, Anheuser-Busch's total charitable giving to the YMCA of Greater St. Louis exceeds $3.9 million.

YMCA of Greater St. Louis' new "Building a Stronger, Healthier Community Campaign" will enable the YMCA to strengthen services in current communities, reach out to new communities, triple the number of youth served in the urban core and build a stronger healthier community through expansion of several health and wellness initiatives.

For more than 153 years, the YMCA of Greater St. Louis has served the St. Louis community with values-based programs that build healthy minds, bodies and spirits for all. The YMCA's ability to adapt and serve the ever-changing needs of the community as well as the organization's reach through its branches, program sites and more than 1,000 community partnerships make the YMCA uniquely able to positively impact the health and quality of life of thousands of St. Louisans of all ages and backgrounds.

"The challenges facing our community, like so many, are no secret. The obesity epidemic and state of America's health is a growing concern and youth in the urban core are in desperate need of quality programs to keep them safe and healthy and prepare them for success and leadership," said Schlansker. "Our programs are working in addressing these challenges and we're committed to making them available to more families and individuals with the help of supporters like the Anheuser-Busch Foundation."

Founded in 1853, the YMCA of Greater St. Louis is a not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Last year the YMCA served more than 604,000 participants through programs that build healthy spirits, minds and bodies. The YMCA of Greater St. Louis has 20 branches and more than 400 program sites in the St. Louis area. For information, visit www.ymcastlouis.org.

The Anheuser-Busch Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Anheuser-Busch Cos., provides support to local organizations in communities where the company operates breweries and other major facilities.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc., is an American-owned, diversified corporation with subsidiaries that include the leading American brewer, family entertainment parks and one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of aluminum beverage containers.

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Building a Stronger, Healthier Community - Campaign Highlights

YMCA of Greater St. Louis' "Building a Stronger, Healthier Community Campaign" will enable the YMCA to strengthen services in current communities, reach out to new communities, triple the number of youth served in the urban core and build a stronger healthier community.

Strengthen services in current communities:

• Four Rivers Area Family YMCA - The 5,300 members have outgrown a facility built to serve 2,625 members. The 8,500 sq. ft. addition will provide expanded Childwatch and multi-purpose program space resulting in service to an additional 3,000 - 5,000 people. The additional space will allow for expanded family programming and fitness classes.
• Jefferson County Family YMCA - Jefferson County is one of the fastest growing counties in the area. The 6,100 members have outgrown a facility built to serve 2,370 members. The 6,000 sq. ft. addition will allow for expansion of the Early Childhood and Childwatch areas for families needing childcare services and for expanded program space for family and teen programming and skill classes such as martial arts and dance.
• South City Family YMCA - This five-year old facility was built to serve 3,900 members and now serves 8,800. A 7,000 sq. ft. addition will serve an additional 1,200 members and allow for expansion of Childwatch services, fitness classes, and space for community meetings and events. This community is experiencing growth through mostly young families moving in.
• Wildwood Family YMCA - In the four years this YMCA has been open, membership has grown from 7,061 to 11,131. One in four households in this fast growing community participate at the YMCA. A 12,000 sq. ft. addition would increase family and fitness programming with anticipated growth in participation of 4,000.
• South County Family YMCA - This branch has experienced continued growth over the past 25 years and currently serves 9,800 members. The 950 sq. ft. expansion would increase space for the welcome center and lobby, resulting in improved customer service, and provide meeting space for special events and community meetings.
• Camp Lakewood, at YMCA of the Ozarks in Potosi, Missouri, has been providing summer camping opportunities for youth and outdoor education programs for school, scout, church and youth groups since 1946. Significant infrastructure improvements are needed for the aging facilities. To better serve individuals with disabilities, three handicap-accessible cabins will be constructed and other renovations will be made to improve accessibility to the buildings and grounds.

Reaching Out to New Communities - The YMCA of Greater St. Louis believes in serving the entire community and has strived to provide YMCA programs and services through both YMCA facilities and outreach sites. The YMCA has been providing limited services to families in Wentzville from a 6,200 sq. ft. leased building since 1984. The growth in the Wentzville region, along with the fact that this community does not have a recreation center or an indoor pool, provides the opportunity for the YMCA to reach out to this community with expanded services through a full-facility YMCA. This new YMCA would serve an additional 9,000 people and offer aquatics, sports, health, and fitness programs for youth, teens, adults, seniors, and families.

Triple the Number of Youth Served in the Urban Core - Enrollment in YMCA youth programs in urban areas is 5,200 annually while the population of youth in the city has grown to 90,000. The need for quality, values-based, programs continues to grow, and the YMCA has the experience and expertise to deliver. The YMCA seeks to reach 15,000 annually with expanded literacy programs, improved access to traditional YMCA programs and expanded youth and teen leadership programs including teen leaders clubs, YMCA Youth in Government, after-school programs and expansion of Washington University Campus YMCA student volunteer outreach.

Build a Stronger, Healthier Community - More than 30 percent of adults in St. Louis City and County are overweight or obese. Eleven percent of adults in the St. Louis city have been diagnosed with diabetes. The YMCA has the delivery system and successful programs in place that, with funding, can replicate and expand these programs throughout the community. Programs include Fit for Life, which has served more than 1,000 African-Americans at high risk for cardiovascular disease referred by their doctors; Activate America, a grassroots community walking program for seniors; FLIP (Family Life Intervention Program), a partnership with Washington University supporting families with obesity issues; Y Personal Fitness, a free personalized fitness program for all YMCA members and KidzFit, integrating fitness and nutrition into after school care programs attended by 5,000+ children.