This week Chicago-based MillerCoors LLC made two significant donations including a $500,000 gift to fund an expansion of public water education programs through Discovery World’s Freshwater Initiative.
The new MillerCoors THIRST Freshwater Innovation Lab will provide a hands-on environment for visitors to meet industry experts, participate in unique classes and engage in educational projects from Discovery World’s water curriculum.
The lab will be located on the second floor of Discovery World’s Aquatarium Building, and will feature a micro-scale brewery that will allow visitors to experience each step of the beer production process, focusing on water’s vital role in brewing.
"We are committed to protecting and conserving the water that is a main ingredient in our great beers," said Mike Jones, vice president of corporate affairs at MillerCoors. "With the THIRST Freshwater Innovation Lab, we hope to help inspire the next generation of water innovators who will continue the legacy of water stewardship in the Milwaukee community for years to come."
The MillerCoors THIRST Freshwater Innovation Lab is currently under construction with plans to open in spring of 2010.
MillerCoors also donated $1.3 million during the annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute and 22nd anniversary dinner weekend in New York City. The dinner raised a record $6.2 million. These funds will be used to assist in leadership development, programmatic support, scholarship and capacity-building for the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) served by the Fund.
"As the founding corporate sponsor, MillerCoors recognizes the importance of supporting the next generation of political leaders, entrepreneurs and CEOs,” said Larry Waters, TMCF board member and MillerCoors director of multicultural relations. “This donation is just an example of our continued and unwavering commitment to encouraging the dreams and aspirations of students."
