Jim Beam Donates Another $100,000 to The Michael Andretti Foundation to Help America 'Drink Smart(R)'

First Donation of $20,000 Goes to Purdue University to Support Alcohol Education

DEERFIELD, Ill., May 28 -- Jim Beam, sponsor of Andretti Green Racing and 2003 IndyCar(R) Series Rookie of the Year Dan Wheldon, Thursday continued its support of The Michael Andretti Foundation, donating $100,000 as part of Jim Beam's ongoing efforts to promote responsible choices about alcohol. In 2003, Jim Beam became the first major contributor to the foundation and continues the partnership with the donated funds now totaling $200,000. Throughout the 2004 Indy Racing League (IRL) IndyCar Series season, Andretti will make donations from this fund to local universities in various race markets for the purpose of alcohol education.

Andretti presented the first donation in the amount of $20,000 to Purdue University during a press conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on (Indy) 500 Festival Community Day, an event dedicated to fans in the community to experience the excitement leading up to the Indy 500.

Last year, Andretti presented one local university in 13 IRL markets with a $5,000 check on behalf of his foundation, Jim Beam and The Century Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible decision-making regarding beverage alcohol.

The money went to help fund each school's implementation of The Century Council's new Alcohol 101 Plus education program and related alcohol education activities.

"I am thrilled to have the continued support of Jim Beam in 2004," Andretti said. "Last year we experienced great success with the program. It's important for me to give back to the community and to partner with Jim Beam who is like-minded in recognizing the importance of education about alcohol and responsible drinking."

One of the universities chosen to receive funds last year was Lehigh University, a school in Andretti's hometown of Nazareth, Pa. The university was able to use the money in conjunction with its Crime Prevention Unit to organize several alcohol prevention programs, reaching over 500 students as a result.

Throughout 2004, Andretti will continue to donate funds in various race markets to provide colleges the opportunity to start an alcohol education program or to augment existing efforts. The donation amount per school has been increased from last year in order to greater impact the colleges' ability to implement alcohol education programs. With the $20,000 donation, schools will be able to facilitate seminars and prevention programs in order to educate students of the importance of making responsible decisions regarding drinking alcohol, in addition to providing the Alcohol 101 Plus program to student organizations.

The universities, including Purdue University, selected to receive a donation are, Wichita State University, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, University of Illinois - Chicago and the University of North Texas.

"We are very encouraged by the dedication being shown by The Michael Andretti Foundation, Jim Beam Brands Co., and The Century Council, to educate students on the importance of making responsible decisions regarding alcohol," said Pablo Malavenda, Associate Dean of Students. "We look forward to using this funding to increase our alcohol education and awareness efforts."

The universities receiving the donated funds are selected on recommendations given by The Century Council and based on need, as well as active participation in already existing alcohol education programs.

"We are very encouraged by the dedication that Jim Beam Brands Co. and Michael Andretti are showing to help eliminate misuse of alcohol on college campuses," said Susan Molinari, chairman, The Century Council. "These donations help to ensure our award-winning programs are available to colleges that may not otherwise have the means to participate."

Jim Beam/Andretti Green Racing, Inc. Partnership

Jim Beam is a co-major sponsor, along with Klein Tools, on the No. 26 car driven by Dan Wheldon and an associate sponsor on the racecars of Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti. In addition to the Jim Beam logo, the company's "Drink Smart(R)" icon is featured on the Jim Beam car and Wheldon's firesuit to reinforce the importance of making responsible decisions about alcohol.

Jim Beam - "Drink Smart(R)"

Jim Beam encourages all consumers to Drink Smart(R). Simply put, Drink Smart(R) means making responsible choices concerning alcohol. For persons under age 21, that means not drinking alcohol at all, and for legal-purchase age adults, it means drinking responsibly, in moderation and not driving drunk.

"The Alcohol 101 Plus program directly provides college students with substantive and potentially lifesaving information about the consequences of illegal underage drinking, over consumption, and drunk driving," said Tom Flocco, president and CEO of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide. "We're excited to continue the partnership with Michael Andretti and his foundation to communicate the importance of responsible consumption by legal-purchase age adults."

In addition to its support of The Michael Andretti Foundation, Jim Beam is also sponsoring the Drink Smart 2-Seater Car in 2004 -- an actual IndyCar, with a 700hp engine, stretched to fit a passenger -- in order to underscore the importance of responsibility and designating a driver when it comes to drinking alcohol. The Jim Beam Drink Smart car will be driven by Wheldon and Andretti and will be present at all the IndyCar Series events.

Jim Beam Brands Co.

Jim Beam Brands Co. is an operating company of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc., an international distilled spirits and fine wines company that manufactures and markets more than 80 brands in 160 countries. Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. has leadership positions in bourbon, with Jim Beam(R) and Jim Beam(R) Black, the number one selling bourbon worldwide; Knob Creek(R) bourbon and The Small Batch Bourbon Collection(R); and cordials, with DeKuyper(R), the number one cordial line in the United States. In addition to spirits, the Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. portfolio includes Geyser Peak(R) and Canyon Road(R). A joint venture between Jim Beam Brands Co. and The Absolut Spirits Company, Incorporated, called Future Brands LLC, provides sales and distribution services in the United States for the company's spirits and wine brands. Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. , the consumer products company.

The Michael Andretti Foundation

The Michael Andretti Foundation is 501(C)(3) foundation that was established in 2003 upon the retirement of racing legend Michael Andretti to focus national resources on people who have shown need and to help promote programs for better health, education and welfare of America's citizens. The Michael Andretti Foundation will be supporting four charitable programs, Drink Smart(R), Education is Freedom, Fund to Benefit Children and Youth and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. For more information about The Michael Andretti Foundation, visit http://www.michaelandrettifoundation.com/.

The Century Council

Launched in May 1991 and funded by America's leading distillers, The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, and to promoting responsible decision-making regarding beverage alcohol. Since 1991, The Century Council's funding companies have invested nearly $130 million in programs that fight against the misuse of their products. Operating on the philosophy that collective action can have a greater impact than individual efforts, The Century Council involves all sectors of the community including beverage alcohol wholesalers and retailers, law enforcement, public officials, educators, insurers, health care professionals and private citizen organizations in the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking. For more information, visit http://www.centurycouncil.org/.

Alcohol 101 Plus Education Program

The Alcohol 101 Plus program is a free, innovative, interactive CD-ROM that helps college students make responsible decisions about alcohol-including not drinking at all for those under 21. Since the program launch less than two months ago, nearly 2,000 colleges have already received or registered for program materials, proving that campuses value this unique resource. Set on a "virtual campus," the new program builds on the best features of the previous version, the award-winning Alcohol 101. New content addresses the problems of specific high-risk populations in college settings, such as: first-year students; Greeks; athletes; and judicial-policy offenders. Developed at a cost exceeding $1 million, Alcohol 101 Plus contributors include more than 50 on-campus practitioners, as well as representatives from the U.S. Department of Education; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); and BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network.