Budweiser Kicks Off Tour with Mexican Singing Legend

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According to PRNewswire, the Vicente Fernandez 2011 U.S. tour, presented by Budweiser, kicks off this month, which is good news for the students in the 20 cities that will be included on the singing legend’s 24-concert tour.

Budweiser and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation will donate a university scholarship at each venue, and the recipient will appear onstage before each concert and have the opportunity to go backstage to meet Fernandez. This is the second year that Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch have partnered with the Mexican singing legend to boost educational opportunities in the Latino community.

“We are contributing to education by way of music,” Fernandez said. “I am pleased to collaborate with Budweiser on projects that empower the community, especially the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.”

To continue its long tradition of supporting Hispanic education, Anheuser-Busch is donating $100,000 this year to the HSF as part of this program. Since 1982, Budweiser has donated more than $24 million-including $500,000 in 2010-and awarded 20,000 scholarships to HSF, the nation’s leading non-profit organization that supports Hispanic higher education.

“For more than three decades, Budweiser’s support for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has helped thousands of Latino students and their families realize the dream of a college education,” said Frank Alvarez, president and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “By teaming up with Vicente Fernandez, Budweiser is expanding its investment in the future of the Latino community and helping us move closer to our goal of putting a college degree in every Latino household.”

“It’s inspiring every time I meet a student or graduate who was able to attend college because of Anheuser’Busch’s support of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund,” said Margarita Flores, vice president of community affairs at Anheuser-Busch and a member of the board of directors for HSF. “And it’s exciting to partner with Vicente Fernandez, a true cultural icon, on this program to benefit the community. Our support helps students who otherwise could not realize their dream of a college education.”

Budweiser is the presenting sponsor for the tour, which started on May 6th in Fresno, California. The tour is produced by Ralph Hauser Promotions and will visit Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and other markets across the United States through November. The full schedule with more cities and exact show dates will be announced at a later date.

“Vicente’s award-winning and best-selling music connects with listeners on a very passionate and emotional level, bridging all generations,” said Rob McCarthy, vice president of Budweiser. “Budweiser brewmasters bring this same passion and quality to the job every day, and Budweiser is thrilled to continue our partnership with this cultural icon for a second consecutive year.”