Coca-Cola’s Double Major This Semester? Education and Recreation

The Coca-Cola Foundation Supports Education and After-School Fitness Programs Through Grants Totaling $2.7M

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Students across the U.S. spend their days focused on their studies. At the end of the day, these students head to recreation centers and parks to re-energize their minds and bodies with fun fitness activities. With help from Coca-Cola, these students and their communities will get a jumpstart in the classroom, at local parks and beyond.

EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION

A grant to the Posse Foundation’s Pre-College Training Program will help 300 high school students develop their college skills through teambuilding, cross-cultural communication, leadership and academic experiences. Support to the Apollo Theater Academy will provide arts and entertainment career development programs to more than 2,000 New York City high school students.

Additional education-based grants will help expand the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program to the Culinary Institute of America, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program supports students who are the first in their families to attend college.

INSPIRING PEOPLE, FAMILIES TO STAY ACTIVE

Through this quarter’s grants, nearly 25,000 youth and families will have access to healthy living and nutrition education programs. Organizations like Youthplaces, Houston Bike Share and Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas will all benefit.

Youthplaces will provide after-school healthy living programming throughout Pittsburgh. Houston Bike Share will give local residents and visitors access to bicycles for trips throughout downtown. Bikes are equipped to track miles traveled, calories burned and carbon emissions avoided. The Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas received support for its Triple Play – Healthy Habits for High Achievers program. This program, which stems from the national Boys & Girls Club of America Triple Play program, focuses on balanced eating, fitness and healthy relationships.

“Our Foundation work is not with just one partner or through just one model,” said Lori George Billingsley, Vice President, Community Relations, Coca-Cola North America Group. “It is only when we come together with different partners and organizations that we can make a meaningful impact on each communities’ particular needs and priorities.”

Other organizations receiving Foundation support include:

  • National Academy Foundation, New York City, NY, $50,000
  • The Idea Village, Inc., New Orleans, LA, $50,000
  • San Francisco Park Alliance, San Francisco, CA, $100,000
  • One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York, New York City, NY, $25,000
  • The Nature Conservancy, Atlanta, GA, $200,000
  • Portland After-School Tennis & Education, Portland, OR, $25,000
  • Girls, Inc. of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, $50,000
  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Arlington, VA, $50,000
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Redlands, Redlands, CA, $25,000
  • Santa Maria Valley YMCA, Santa Maria, CA, $25,000
  • National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, MD, $50,000

For 127 years Coca-Cola has brought people and communities together. Today, we’re continuing that tradition by building programs to promote energy balance and encourage active, healthy living. Through collaborative partnerships and programs, Coca-Cola is delivering more beverage choices, calorie information and physical activity opportunities than ever before. To learn more visit www.comingtogether.com.

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

Since its inception, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $500 million to support global sustainable community initiatives, including water stewardship, community recycling, active healthy living, and education. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please go to www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_coke.html.

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. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

The Coca-Cola Company
Katelyn Jackson, 404-676-2034
KJackson@coca-cola.com

Source: The Coca-Cola Company