Williamsburg, Va. (May 6, 2008) – The Anheuser-Busch Williamsburg brewery is the first business to partner with the Williamsburg Land Conservancy and Virginia Capital Trail Foundation to keep the Virginia Capital Trail litter-free through the Adopt-A-Spot program. More than 30 brewery employees and their family members participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and inaugural clean-up on Saturday, May 3. The team removed 32 bags of debris from the trail. Cans, glass and plastic bottles were separated and recycled.

“Anheuser-Busch has supported the Virginia Capital Trail since its inception, so we were not surprised they were the first business to participate in Adopt-A-Spot along the trail,” said Caren Schumacher, executive director of the Williamsburg Land Conservancy and vice chair of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation Board of Directors.  “The Conservancy is pleased to hold a permanent conservation easement over the 42-acres of Phase One of the trail, which connects 400 years of history along one of the first inland routes in North America.  Through the assistance of community volunteers and businesses like Anheuser-Busch, this piece of history will be an even greater resource to the region when it is completed in 2012.”  

The Virginia Capital Trail is a pedestrian and bicycle trail that connects the Commonwealth’s past and present capitals of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Richmond along the Scenic Route 5 corridor. The Capital Trail traverses more than 50 miles and five jurisdictions and encourages non-motorized transportation, which provides health, educational and environmental benefits to the community.

“The Virginia Capital Trail will be an asset to schools, families and fitness enthusiasts in the area by providing the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of outdoor exercise while learning about our region’s history,” said Brian McNelis, senior plant manager of the Williamsburg brewery. “Anheuser-Busch is proud to be part of this effort as part of our tradition of giving back in the communities where our employees live and work.”

Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of the Williamsburg brewery, and its charitable foundation have contributed nearly $2.5 million to the Williamsburg community over the past decade. The brewery annually supports local organizations such as the United Way of Greater Williamsburg, the Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency, The College of William & Mary, the Boy Scouts of America, Colonial Coast Girl Scout Council, Big Brothers & Big Sisters and the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.5 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country’s best-selling premium beer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2008. Anheuser Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world’s largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

The Williamsburg Land Conservancy currently protects over 3,000 acres of land in the James and York Rivers watersheds. The primary measure of success is the total acreage of land protected in the region. The Conservancy works in partnership and collaboration with other land protection organizations and programs to ensure land owners use the best conservation tool to protect their land.