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Bacardi and The Times sponsor a once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch a ride with Michael Schumacher.

It’s nice to get a lift in your friend’s car, but how would you like to get a ride from Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher?

That’s right. The seven-time Formula One champion wants to take you and a guest for a spin around Ascari Race Track in Spain in a high performance race car. Bacardi and the English newspaper The Times are sponsoring a contest to promote responsible drinking. Michael Schumacher, Bacardi’s Global Social Responsibility Ambassador, has joined the famous rum distillery to spread the message that drinking and driving don’t mix.

The prize will be awarded May 13. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity includes a 3-day trip with accommodations and meals to Malaga, Spain, “The Drive of Your Life” around the Ascari Race Track with Michael Schumacher, personal driving lessons from the legend himself, and a chance to drive a high performance car.

Before you put on your driving gloves and crash helmet, Bacardi, The Times, and Michael Schumacher require a few things. First, all entries must be sent in by May 11 via The Times website. Second, you must be of legal drinking age. And most importantly, show up sober to your drive! Bacardi, Michael Schumacher, and The Times want to remind you to always drink responsibly, and always have a designated driver for any outing.

And who knows? If you’re lucky, that designated driver just might be Michael Schumacher! Get your entry in today!

Learn more about Michael Schumacher on his official website.

This superfan has a nicely illustrated biography of Michael Shumacher.

Take a tour of the Ascari Race Track.

Learn more about the remarkable Bacardi Family.

Bacardi environmental initiative involves establishing an MIT professorship.

Take a tour of the official Formula 1 site.

The Bacardi Family, which traces its roots back to Cuba, has donated disaster relief to the PADF on the wake of two destructive hurricanes.

The Bacardi Family’s roots to Cuba has been highlighted recently with the release of the book “Bacardi and the Long Fight For Cuba,” written by Tom Gjelten, a correspondent for National Public Radio. The New York Times reviewed the Bacardi family’s struggle with Cuba as an engaging, moving narrative organized around the lives of members of the Bacardi family and the founders of the business of rum.

Bacardi LTD is the largest private distillers of spirits in the world. Having escaped the acquisition of “bourgeois” property by Fidel Castro’s regime, Bacardi continues fighting for Cuba in exile and is currently headquartered in the Bahamas. The Bacardi family’s contribution to environment hazards in Cuba was preceeded by a $150,000 donation to support wetlands in the Bahamas.

Bacardi Ltd. Donation to PADF Assists Disaster Relief in Cuba

Mon Sep 29, 9:00 AM ET

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Michael J. Zamba of Pan American Development Foundation, +1-202-458-6180, mzamba@padf.org; Pat Neal of Bacardi Limited, +1-441-294-1110; or Amy Federman, Burson-Marsteller, +1-441-294-1110, Amy.Federman@bm.com, for Bacardi Limited

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In the aftermath of two destructive hurricanes and two tropical storms that recently struck Cuba, Bacardi Limited has donated $100,000 to the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) to provide assistance to the people on the island.

“Through this donation to the Cuban people, Bacardi Limited has continued to demonstrate its leadership in the area of humanitarian assistance,” says John Sanbrailo, Executive Director of PADF.

PADF has been working with individuals and organizations to collect cash donations (U.S. tax deductible) that will pay for humanitarian relief to Cubans. PADF accepts donations through a toll free number (800) 941-0114 and a special website www.panamericanrelief.org.

“The Bacardi family and Company are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the recent hurricanes in Cuba. We hope that this donation will help alleviate some of the pain that the Cuban people are experiencing and remind all Cubans that they continue to remain in the hearts and minds of all Cuban exiles,” said Facundo L. Bacardi, Chairman of Bacardi Limited.

Marc Wachtenheim, Director of the Cuban Development Initiative at PADF, encourages individuals and companies to help the survivors. “Bacardi Limited’s donation has made a big difference to PADF’s disaster relief assistance in Cuba. Donations large and small have come in to support survivors of these storms,” he said. “But, we cannot stop here as this disaster requires assistance from around the world.”

Bacardi Limited, with its roots in Cuba more than 145 years ago and being Cuba’s first multi-national company, encourages companies and individuals to help those in dire need on the island.
PADF, which is a non-governmental organization, has in-depth experience in natural disaster relief. The non-profit organization is currently also involved in disaster relief in Haiti, where four back-to-back storms have resulted in more than 400 deaths and hundreds of thousands of homeless in that Caribbean nation.

About Pan American Development Foundation

PADF is an independent 501(c) (3) non-profit organization established in 1962 through a unique partnership with between the Organization of American States and private enterprise to promote, facilitate and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean through innovative partnerships and integrated involvement of the private and public sectors. For more information, visit www.padf.org.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets a variety of internationally recognized spirits. Bacardi Limited’s brand portfolio consists of more than 200 brands and labels including: BACARDI(R) rum, the world’s number-one selling rum; GREY GOOSE(R) vodka, the world-leader in super premium vodka; DEWAR’S(R) Scotch whisky, the number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE(R) gin, the fastest-growing premium gin in the spirits industry; CAZADORES(R) blue agave tequila, one of the top-selling premium tequilas worldwide; MARTINI(R) vermouth, the world-leader in vermouth; and other leading brands. It was founded in Santiago de Cuba, February 4, 1862. For more information, visit www.bacardilimited.com.

SOURCE Pan American Development Foundation

View the press release for Bacardi Family’s contribution to Cuba.

More information about Bacardi Family bat symbol and Cuba

Former Costa Rican Presidential Candidate is Appointed UF’S Bacardi Family Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies.

View a recipe for the Bacardi family rum cake.

More on the Bacardi family mixology.

Inquisitive minds seek out information and determine the validity of that information. Personally, I am not one to sit idly and wait for someone to tell me what I should believe. Anyhow, I attend social events from time to time and many times, the conversation tends to bore me. So, I end up consuming a Mojito or two. Sounds trite, I know. During my utter boredom at these social events, I found myself being intrigued by the company Bacardi. So, I jumped online, did a little google-search and found tons of information. So, I had wanted to know if it were true that Bacardi originated from Cuba. Let’s ponder on that, Bacardi Cuba. Seems silly to wonder, but not everyone knows the answer to that.

My Google search tells me that there is a book that answers that question (available at Amazon.com):

Bacardi And The Long Fight For Cuba:The Biography for a Cause

If I had the chance to read the book, I would probably find out that Bacardi is in fact from Cuba, but I don’t have time for that.

Another Bacardi question comes to mind, “Where’s the best recipe site and best Bacardi recipe?” A friend of mine from myspace sent me a link to this site called Healthy Baking. However, I’m not too certain how healthy a rum cake can be. But on the other hand, dessert type food in moderation is healthy, in my opinion.

For the original Bacardi Cuba Rum Cake Recipe, refer to the link.

And, my last bit of research relates to their recent announcement of electing new directors to the board. Read below for the rest of the article. I’ll have to post another day. Gotta go for now. Thanks.

BACARDI LIMITED ELECTS NEW DIRECTORS TO BOARD
- Bacardi further strengthens corporate governance -

Hamilton, Bermuda, July 10, 2008 — Facundo L. Bacardi, chairman of Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, today announced two new directors have been elected to serve on the Company’s board of directors.

“These two highly accomplished individuals bring vast experience in the consumer products and investment banking industries to the Bacardi Limited board of directors,” said Mr. Bacardi. “The appointments continue to reflect the Company’s strong commitment to good corporate governance.”

The newly elected directors are Melanie Liddle Healey and Roman Martinez.

Melanie Liddle Healey has vast expertise in marketing of consumer goods. She serves as group president, global feminine and health care for the Procter & Gamble Company, a $76.5 billion global company operating in more than 80 countries. Previously Ms. Healey served as president of global feminine care (2005-2007) and vice president of North America feminine care (2001-2005). She joined Procter & Gamble in 1990 and held a variety of marketing roles in Brazil and Mexico on leading P&G brands before being appointed general manager of feminine care for Latin America in 1998. Ms. Healey began her 25 year career in marketing at Johnson & Johnson.

Roman Martinez is the retired managing director of Lehman Brothers, where he had a more than thirty year career with the company. He is currently a private investor and serves on various corporate and non-profit boards including Alliant Techsystems, Inc., CIGNA Corporation and New York Presbyterian Healthcare System. Mr. Martinez is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been involved in a broad spectrum of U.S. and international investment banking activities covering advisory as well as financing assignments. Mr. Martinez also headed a sector of Lehman’s investment banking division during 1986-1989, was a member of the board of directors of the Lehman Brothers Division of Shearson Lehman Brothers Inc. during 1989-1993 and a member of the management committee of the investment banking division during 1990-1994.

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About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited is the largest privately held spirits company in the world and produces and markets a variety of internationally recognized spirits. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio consists of more than 200 brands and labels, including: BACARDI® rum, the world’s number-one selling premium rum; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world leader in super premium vodka; MARTINI® vermouth, the world leader in vermouth; DEWAR’S® Scotch whisky, the number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the fastest-growing premium gin in the world; CAZADORES® blue agave tequila, the top-selling premium tequila in the world; and other leading brands. For more information, visit www.BacardiLimited.com.

Media Contacts:
Amy Federman, Burson-Marsteller, for Bacardi Limited, 305-347-4343, amy.federman@bm.com
Patricia Morgan, for Bacardi Limited, 441-295-4345
Patricia Neal, for Bacardi Limited, 305-573-8511

The information, and any attachments contained in this email may contain confidential and/or privileged information and is intended solely for the use of the intended named recipient(s). Any disclosure or dissemination in whatever form, by another other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please contact the sender and destroy this message and any attachments. Thank you.

Other cool Bacardi sites:

Bacardi family takes small step towards going public.