Coca-Cola(R) Donates $120,000 to Toys for Tots to Help Open Happiness This Holiday Season
My Coke Rewards Toys For Tots Gift Drive to Provide Thousands of Presents for Underprivileged Kids
Festive Holiday Events in Eight Cities to Feature Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan and Additional Donations to Toys For Tots
Also in the Spirit of Giving, More Than Three Million Mini-Cans of Free Coca-Cola Products to Be Delivered to Homes Across The Country
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ho Ho Ho. 'Tis the season for giving! Coca-Cola is making it easy for people to help others have a Merry Christmas with a national online gift drive benefitting Toys for Tots. From now through December 31, Coca-Cola is spreading happiness by asking people to donate their My Coke Rewards points at www.mcr.com/holiday, to help generate gifts for underprivileged kids. The goal is to raise five million My Coke Rewards points, which would enable Toys for Tots to put thousands of gifts in the hands of children and teens. In addition, Coca-Cola is donating $120,000 to Toys for Tots which will be divided among eight cities across America.
"Coca-Cola has been an uplifting and magical part of the holiday season for decades, just like Toys For Tots," said Stuart Kronauge, Vice President, Coca-Cola Trademark Brands, Coca-Cola North America. "With our My Coke Rewards points donation drive, we're offering people a simple way to support Toys For Tots and celebrate the spirit of giving. Through the generosity of My Coke Rewards members, together we'll help make the holidays special for families in need."
Participating is easy for anyone, anywhere. Registered My Coke Rewards members can donate their points to Toys for Tots by entering codes found on 13 participating Coca-Cola products at www.mycokerewards.com. As the donations accumulate, Toys for Tots will be able to redeem them for gifts such as toys, skateboard helmets and basketballs.
"Coca-Cola's holiday program is an essential partner in helping us achieve our goal to help families across the country," said Lt. General Pete Osman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "By giving people a simple opportunity to donate their My Coke Rewards points, they can provide thousands of less fortunate children and teens with a chance to open some much-needed happiness this holiday season."
Coca-Cola Spreads Holiday Cheer with Special Events in Eight Cities
In addition to the My Coke Rewards gift drive, Coca-Cola is kicking off the fourth year of its partnership with Toys For Tots with an eight-city toy drive linked to the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan tour. The Caravan is made up of five semi-trucks brilliantly illuminated with 25,000 twinkling lights, designed to create a festive wonderland for children and adults alike. At each Caravan stop/toy drive, Coca-Cola will donate $15,000 to the local Toys For Tots organization, for a total donation of $120,000. Toy drives/Caravan stops will take place in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., El Paso, New York City, Atlanta, San Jose, Pittsburgh and Chicago. The program highlights Coca-Cola's annual effort to spread cheer and bring families together for the holidays. To find the nearest location where the Coca-Cola Caravan will be, please visit http://holidaycaravantour.com/
My Coke Rewards is the Homepage for Holiday Cheer
People visiting mycokerewards.com will find easy holiday recipes created by celebrity chefs, e-cards to send to family and friends and great gift ideas, in addition to the Toys For Tots point donation program. Until the end of the year, My Coke Rewards members can instantly win prizes from Coca-Cola and Sony that encourage active family fun like the new PlayStation(R) Move motion controller. Two lucky winners per hour will win a PlayStation Move motion controller bundle and a game of their choice. In addition, two grand-prize winners each day will be awarded a PlayStation(R) 3 system, a PlayStation Move motion controller bundle and a game of their choice.
Thousands to Enjoy Free Coca-Cola Products
In December, Coca-Cola is making special stops at thousands of homes across the country to spread a little holiday cheer with free Coca-Cola products. Approximately 3.1 mini-cans of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero will be distributed to random households by street teams traveling in specially wrapped vans. The effort is part of the "Happy Holidays! Have A Coke On Us" program, which runs through the end of the year.
New Coca-Cola Holiday Commercial Features "Snow Globe" Theme
Refreshing a tradition of engaging holiday campaigns, Coca-Cola introduced a new, global holiday television commercial which will air in more than 90 countries around the world. The commercial, entitled "Snow Globe," features iconic Coca-Cola holiday imagery including Santa Claus, the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan trucks and the Coca-Cola Polar Bear, as well as a new song, "Shake Up Christmas," written and performed by Grammy Award-winning band Train. The spot features vignettes which show people who are separated from friends and family at the holidays. As the ad progresses, it's revealed that the people are characters inside a snow globe which sits on Santa's desk. While taking a break to enjoy a Coca-Cola, Santa gently tilts the snow globe, creating a chain of events which reunites the lonely individuals with loved ones.
Festive Holiday Packaging on Store Shelves
Coca-Cola multi-packs, cans and 2-liter bottles feature an image of Santa enjoying a bottle of Coca-Cola inside a snow globe, reflecting the theme introduced in the new holiday commercial. Other brands, including Diet Coke(R), Caffeine-Free Diet Coke(R), Sprite(R), Sprite Zero(TM) and Coca-Cola Zero(TM) also showcase festive holiday images of snowflakes or evergreen trees. All packaging features instructions on how to win PlayStation Move motion controller bundles and PlayStation 3 systems.
The Iconic Coca-Cola Santa
In 1931, Haddon Sundblom was commissioned by Coca-Cola to illustrate the image of Santa Claus for a magazine advertising campaign. His distinctive interpretation of St. Nick depicted a merry gentleman with rosy cheeks, a fluffy white beard and a red outfit with a large black belt. Since that time, the Coca-Cola Santa has become one of the most universal images of the jolly old elf, making Coca-Cola's connection to Christmas recognizable around the world.
About The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation
Toys for Tots, a 63 year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides happiness and hope to economically disadvantaged children during each Christmas holiday season. The toys, books and other gifts collected and distributed by the Marines offer these children recognition, confidence and a positive memory for a lifetime. It is such experiences that help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. Last year the Marine Corps fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of 7.4 million less fortunate children in nearly 700 communities nationwide. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.
About My Coke Rewards
With almost 15 million registered members, www.mycokerewards.com is one of the top consumer packaged goods loyalty websites and the number one beverage website in the U.S. My Coke Rewards helps consumers find lots of little and big things that put a smile on their face every time they enjoy a Coca-Cola product. Consumers may join My Coke Rewards by going online and setting up a rewards account at www.mycokerewards.com. Members then accumulate points by entering the My Coke Rewards codes found under the cap or on the inside flap of fridge packs of any of the hundreds of participating products in a variety of brands and sizes. My Coke Rewards codes may also be found on bonus offers on cups, scratch cards and coupons. Members then easily redeem rewards for great prizes and gifts, enter sweepstakes or donate points to their local school, favorite charity or cause. Since its inception in 2006, My Coke Rewards members have entered more than 1 billion codes from participating brands.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
Source: The Coca-Cola Company
Released December 8, 2010