Program is Part of Budweiser’s $10 Million Investment into Conservation Initiatives.
ST. LOUIS –-(Ammoland.com)- Bill D’Alonzo of Greenville, Del., was named the 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year today at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.
This is the 17th consecutive year Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have recognized an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the outdoors and conservation.
The annual award is part of the Budweiser Outdoors program. This program, which is also supported by matching donations from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, has raised more than $10 million for on-the-ground conservation initiatives.
Throughout the years, the Budweiser Outdoors program has supported organizations – including, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl Foundation and the Quality Deer Management Association – to promote outdoor sports and wildlife conservation.
“Since 1995, the Budweiser Outdoors program has celebrated and supported the passion, dedication and leadership of conservationists across the country,” said Bob Fishbeck, senior manager for the Budweiser brands. “We all have a responsibility to help protect our natural resources and the work being done by Bill and other wildlife advocates is an inspiration for all of us to follow.”
Each year, the Budweiser Conservationists of the Year is selects four finalists from dozens of outstanding nominees, and adults across the country vote for their favorite in an open-ballot process on Budweiser.com.
D’Alonzo has a long history of wildlife and wetland protection efforts. At the age of 14, his passion for hunting drove him to become a member of Ducks Unlimited. Over the years, D’Alonzo’s passion has grown in his roles as a volunteer, national committee member, state treasurer and senior vice president for business planning. Today, his credo of practicing what he preaches continues to drive his commitment to conservation. Whether it is the 20 managed habitats that he established or the hundreds of acres of native grasses, shrubs and small grain crops he’s planted, D’Alonzo’s belief in the power of conservation continues to make an impact across Delaware and beyond. A $50,000 grant from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will be made to an organization of choosing to support conservation efforts.
Three other dedicated conservationists were selected alongside D’Alonzo as finalists for the award: Fred Bryant of Kingsville, Texas; Don R. Johnson of Festus, Mo. and David Ramsey of Unicoi, Tenn. Each will receive a $5,000 grant from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to be distributed to wildlife or conservation projects of their choosing.
A nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation sustains, restores and enhances the nation’s fish and wildlife. By teaming leadership conservation investments with those of public and private partners, the Foundation maximizes measurable conservation benefits. Since its establishment, the Foundation has awarded 10,800 grants to more than 3,700 organizations in the United States and abroad, while leveraging more than $635 million in federal funds into $1.5 billion for conservation. For more information, visit www.nfwf.org.
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.3 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers. 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. Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.
The post Bill D’Alonzo Of Delaware Named Budweiser Conservationist Of The Year appeared first on AmmoLand.com.