ST. LOUIS – Brewing giant and bedrock St. Louis business Anheuser-Busch is teaming with other local organizations to support bars and restaurants recovering from the May 16 tornado.
According to an AB executive, the St. Louis Restaurant Tornado Relief Fund will provide critical support restaurants, bars, and employees in the food service industry affected by the storm. Eligible businesses will be able to apply for financial assistance to cover staff wages, costs of refurbishing damaged buildings, and other needs. The application process will begin on Monday, June 2.
AB is donating $500,000 to the Missouri Restaurant Association to kickstart the relief fund.
“Anheuser-Busch’s history is deeply intertwined with our hometown bars and restaurants, where our people, family, friends, and members of our community meet to enjoy a beer,” Cesar Vargas, Anheuser-Busch’s chief external affairs officer, said. “These establishments are the lifeblood of St. Louis…and we’re proud to support recovery efforts in our hometown in partnership with the Missouri Restaurant Association and the broader community.”
In the immediate aftermath of the May 16 tornado, Anheuser-Busch donated $100,000 to the United Way of Greater St. Louis’ disaster relief fund and supplied more than 100,000 cans of clean drinking water residents in the affected neighborhoods and to first responders in those areas.