Newswise — Saint Louis University has announced a $3 million gift from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation -- the largest donation to date for a $35 million expansion of SLU's School of Law and the largest-ever individual gift to SLU from A-B in its corporate history.
"There is no better St. Louis corporate citizen than Anheuser-Busch," said University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. "This very generous gift demonstrates that its support for local institutions remains unmatched."
The gift, which fits into Anheuser-Busch's priority to support educational institutions in communities where it does business, was announced officially during the law school's hooding ceremony at Chaifetz Arena.
The thousands in attendance were the first to see what the future holds for the SLU law community, as the University unveiled never-before-seen renderings of the Anheuser-Busch Student Commons, the new front door for the school and a major feature of the expansion, which will be funded by the gift.
"The Saint Louis University School of Law continues to grow in reputation," said Dean Jeffrey Lewis, J.D. "This major gift will help make the expansion of our law school a reality, and we are proud that a company so important to the St. Louis community is partnering with us on this exciting project."
David A. Peacock, president of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., presented the gift to Biondi during the hooding ceremony. He said that supporting educational institutions and economic development are among the Anheuser-Busch Foundation's highest priorities.
"The successful completion of this project will mark one more success story as part of the continuing renaissance of Midtown St. Louis," Peacock said. "Saint Louis University has played a major role in this extraordinary rebirth, and we are pleased to partner with an institution that, like Anheuser-Busch, proudly calls St. Louis home."
Biondi added that the gift continues the outstanding support Anheuser-Busch has given SLU for decades.
"Through the years, Anheuser-Busch has been a wonderful corporate partner for Saint Louis University," Biondi said. "As you look around our campus you see so many projects that Anheuser-Busch helped to make possible."
Named for August Busch Jr., SLU's Busch Student Center is a central focus on the campus, serving students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests. The state-of-the-art Anheuser-Busch Auditorium in the John Cook School of Business has hosted numerous special events. Anheuser-Busch also provided technical support for the recent construction of Chaifetz Arena.
"Anheuser-Busch has a long history of supporting Saint Louis University, its students, faculty and alumni," Peacock said. "Supporting education and economic revitalization in the communities where we live and work have always been priorities for Anheuser-Busch and will continue to be."
The School of Law expansion project will completely reconfigure the appearance and functioning of the current law school facility. Once completed, the law school will feature a new state-of-the-art classroom building, a stately courtroom, the Anheuser-Busch Student Commons, a modernized legal information center and an exterior façade in the classic Gothic style. The project is one more piece in the transformation of the Midtown St. Louis landscape along a stretch of Lindell Boulevard.
Construction on the expansion will not begin until fundraising for the project is fully completed. Lewis expects groundbreaking to take place in the next 18 to 24 months.
Under Lewis' leadership, SLU's law school has seen its national reputation rise significantly. The school's health law program is ranked as the finest in the country in the most recent U.S. News & World Report "Best Graduate Schools" issue. The school also is attracting top faculty and students from around the country.
"The progress of our law school has generated great enthusiasm among our alumni, students, faculty and staff," Lewis said. "This progress will continue as we improve and expand our facilities to provide the best possible educational experience for our students." About the Saint Louis University School of Law:Guided by the Jesuit tradition of academic excellence, freedom of inquiry and respect for individual differences, the Saint Louis University School of Law seeks to advance the understanding and development of law, and prepare students to achieve professional success and personal satisfaction through leadership and service to others. For more information, visit http://law.slu.edu.
About Saint Louis University:Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Through teaching, research, health care and community service, Saint Louis University has provided one-of-a-kind education, leadership and service for 191 years. For more information, visit http://www.slu.edu.
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 http://www.anheuser-busch.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Architectural renderings of SLU School of Law expansion project, including the Anheuser-Busch Student Commons, are available on request.
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