CORRECTING and REPLACING Fan's "Full-Court Press" Secures Sprite Creative Refresh for 21 Local Basketball Courts
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In the list of 2011 Sprite Spark Parks Project $20,000 Grant Winners: Brighton Playfield, Seattle, WA should replace McGuane Park, Chicago, IL.
The corrected release reads:
FAN'S "FULL-COURT PRESS" SECURES SPRITE CREATIVE REFRESH FOR 21 LOCAL BASKETBALL COURTS
Assist from LeBron James Drives Participation for Sprite Spark Park Project
Voting on Sprite.com and Facebook.com/Sprite Determined Grant Recipients
Thanks to an enthusiastic "sixth man" nationwide effort from residents who voted online, neighborhood basketball courts soon will be rejuvenated and transformed into sparkling places to play. Today, 21 courts were named winners in the first phase of the Sprite Spark Parks Project, earning refurbishment grants of $35,000 and $20,000.
"I know first-hand just how important it is for youth to have a neighborhood basketball park where they can play ball early in life," said LeBron James. "The Sprite Spark Parks Project is a great way to give young athletes the chance to be active and make their basketball dreams a reality by providing them with a fresh place to play the game."
Renovation of the winning courts may begin as soon as this summer*. Funding from the Sprite Spark Parks Project will provide items such as new rims, backboards, court resurfacing, lights, benches and art installations as determined by the park manager. The top vote recipient in each of the program's seven regions will receive a $35,000 refurbishment grant, while the other 14 winning courts will receive $20,000 each.
2011 Sprite Spark Parks Project $35,000 Grant Winners:
Park Name City State
1 Studebaker Park Kokomo IN
2 Lions Park Pontiac IL
3 Cheney Parks & Recreation Cheney WA
4 Walnut Hill Park Dallas TX
5 Litchfield Park Recreation Litchfield Park AZ
6 Herman C Michael Park Bishop GA
7 Brandon Park Lancaster PA
2011 Sprite Spark Parks Project $20,000 Grant Winners:
Park Name City State
1 Rough River Dam State Resort Park Falls of Rough KY
2 Shiras Hill Park Marquette MI
3 Brighton Playfield Seattle WA
4 Jordan Ridge Park South Jordan UT
5 Holliday Park Cheyenne WY
6 Rancho Tapo Community Park Simi Valley CA
7 Rusch Park Citrus Heights CA
8 La Palma Recreation Department La Palma CA
9 Cerritos Regional County Park Cerritos CA
10 Town of Collierville: Community Center Collierville TN
11 N H Scott Recreation Center Decatur GA
12 Water Tower Recreation Center Philadelphia PA
13 Babylon Parks & Recreation North Babylon NY
14 Wells Recreation Department Wells ME
"Our goal with the Sprite Spark Parks Project is to ensure that communities all over the country have safe and fun places where people can get active and play," said Augusto Elias, Sprite Brand Director, Coca-Cola North America. "Teaming up with local residents and officials to support their home parks is a rewarding way to encourage active fun!"
The Sprite Spark Parks Project is a multi-phase program to build and restore recreation environments where community members can get outside and enjoy fitness activities. In February, Sprite partnered with LeBron James to kick off the first phase of the program, which focuses on improving basketball courts.
People nationwide logged on to Sprite.com and Facebook.com/Sprite to nominate local courts they wished to receive refurbishment grants, and the top nominees were selected as finalists. Then supporters logged on to Sprite.com or Facebook.com/Sprite to vote for the final courts to win one of the 21 grants available through the program.
In the program's second phase, the Sprite helped restore outdoor parks and community spaces across America by collaborating with Habitat for Humanity International(R). Families participated by collecting and mailing in the green tabs found on specially marked Sprite and Sprite Zero(TM) 12-oz cans. For every green Sprite tab redeemed, the brand donated 10 cents to Habitat for Humanity with a guaranteed donation of $250,000 and a maximum of $500,000. More information about this initiative can be found at www.SpriteGreenTabs.com.
The third and final phase of the 2011 Sprite Spark Parks Project will launch in mid-July, when Sprite gives schools a chance to win a playground or athletic field renovation. People can submit My Coke Rewards codes found on Sprite and Sprite Zero Fridge Packs(TM) and 2-liter products to redeem points for the school they designate. More information is available on www.mycokerewards.com/Sprite.
Through the Sprite Spark Parks Project, Sprite will invest approximately $2 million into building or revamping basketball courts, community spaces, playgrounds and athletic fields across America throughout 2011. As a result, an estimated one million young people will have greater access to recreational spaces where they can be inspired to be active and creative.
* Construction on each basketball renovation project will commence pending court operators' agreement to the program's terms and conditions and based on court operators' timeline.
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. The Company's portfolio includes 15 billion dollar brands, including Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, as well as Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. 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 1.7 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 July 11, 2011