Anheuser-Busch drops cash donations to local American Legion post, says it remains committed to supporting military
Leaders of a local veterans group are accusing Anheuser-Busch InBev of reneging on its promise to continue supporting the group.
Since World War II, Anheuser-Busch has been the chief patron of American Legion Post 299. The company supplied beer and space for meetings, as well as thousands of dollars in donations every year to the post. (The group’s membership is open to those who both served in the U.S. military and worked for A-B.)
Anheuser-Busch’s cash donations to Post 299 dried up this year. A-B’s contributions have helped Post 299 donate to needy children and to veterans over the years, and officers of the Legion post expected the tradition to continue. They say Anheuser-Busch managers told them in a meeting last November - just before InBev bought America’s biggest brewer - that the company would donate $20,000 to the post in 2009.
But in February, the company informed Post 299 it would not make its customary cash donation. Contacted this week, A-B said it is unaware of any discussions of 2009 funding before February. The company indicated it had no record of committing itself to making more cash donations to Post 299.
Anheuser-Busch has been a stalwart sponsor of Post 299 since 1940. Officers at the Post say that, for the last four or five years, Anheuser-Busch has given as much as $22,000 per year. That number included $15,000 in straight donations and $7,000 in an account to cover “free” beer for picnics, conventions and meetings.
A-B declined to discuss its amount of cash giving to Post 299. Nor did the company explain why it halted its customary cash donations to Post 299 this year. Anheuser-Busch said it continues to provide a meeting space for Post 299’s monthly meetings and free beer for special events, such as an upcoming picnic.
“We admire the good work of Post 299,” David A. Peacock, the company’s president, said in a statement. “There are many worthy organizations that request our support each year. We remain committed to supporting groups in ways big and small that are working to serve our community.”
Anheuser-Busch has a long history of supporting veterans and current armed forces. It provides funds for veterans and families of fallen soldiers, as well as free admission to military families at its theme parks. Earlier this month, the company was honored with the Secretary of Defense Outstanding Public Service Award, the second-highest citation the Department of Defense can award to private citizens for contributions, assistance or support.
A-B officials said they try to support as many groups as feasible. The targeted areas for A-B’s charitable giving include education, the environment, economic development, disaster preparedness and the military. “We evaluate each request and put the money where we feel it will be put to the best use in any given year,” Peacock said.
Post 299 veterans say their connection to Anheuser-Busch went beyond money. Longtime CEO August A. “Gussie” Busch Jr. was once a member. The post manned a rifle guard at his funeral and lays a wreath on his grave every Sept. 29 - the day of his death.
Here is the full story that appeared in today’s Post-Dispatch.
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Jeremiah McWilliams is a native Virginian who came to the Post-Dispatch in early 2007 to cover beer and other consumer products. He previously covered manufacturing for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Va. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University. 
Think about it…why should a foreign company support our troops or veterans? Choose wisely when purchasing your next beer, it’s your only defense.