Sustainability

Coca-Cola, like many other businesses, recognises that our business growth journey in emerging economies will only be sustainable if the benefits of growth reach all members of society, especially those who traditionally have been marginalised, including women and young people.  As a business, we believe that there is no better investment than women, both to spur our own business success and to foster broad-based economic growth and sustainable development. At a business level, women in our value chain make a vital contribution to our success.  By investing in their success we invest in ours. There is also a compelling development case.  Women often demonstrate greater propensity to save and re-invest in the long-term success of their businesses, increasing job opportunities and generating more stable incomes for themselves and their workforce.  Studies also show that women are much more likely to reinvest their income on food, education and healthcare for their children and families. In many of the communities we operate in, we know that the barriers to women succeeding in business can be particularly acute, including a lack of access to education, business skills, finance and peer group mentors.  So in 2010, we launched 5by20, the Coca-Cola Company’s global commitment to enable the economic empowerment of 5 million women entrepreneurs across the company’s value chain by 2020. Through 5by20, we contribute by providing women entrepreneurs in our value chain with access to financing, business skills development and mentoring. We can’t do this alone. For us, collaborating with NGO partners, government and civil society are essential to sustaining and scaling 5by20. Through partnership, we benefit from complementary expertise and can create opportunities for women entrepreneurs to increase their business and vocational skills, widen their revenue streams, achieve economies of scale and improve operational efficiencies and financial management.. Funding partners, primarily organisations like IFC, enable us to scale up action to address financing gaps facing women, by bringing together commercial lenders, IFC and Coca-Cola system partners. Our partnership with IFC’s “Banking on Women” initiative illustrates the opportunity. In Nigeria, this partnership has brought together Access Bank, IFC and the Nigerian Bottling company.    Under the terms of the initiative, Access Bank is able to provide loans, with reduced collateral requirements and more favourable terms due to reduced customer acquisition costs, and  by leveraging IFC’s $100 million risk sharing facility, which both underwrites the risk of lending and funds business skills training.   The bottler recruits customers, provides customer intelligence and credit histories, and partners with Access Bank to help enforce payments.  This approach offers significant opportunities to scale and is financially self-sustaining. To sustain and scale this initiative, our focus continues to be on integrating 5by20 in to our core business, and on partnering with organisations, who share the same level of ambition, to create a supportive ecosystem that allows women to achieve their full potential. Susan Mboya is Group Director, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Eurasia and Africa Group, The Coca-Cola Company This post was originally shared on the Business Fights Poverty blog here. To learn more about 5by20, please visit 5by20.com. Click here to view a complete summary and to hear the audio from the panel. More 5by20 Stories:Building Stronger Businesses, Families and Communities One Women at a Time: A 5by20 InfographicTwitter Chat Recap: Coke and Women's Empowerment5by20: Success StoriesEntrepreneurship for Rural WomenCoke Brings 5by20 Initiative to ChinaPartners of Women in Business: IFC and 5by20 Join Forces

Obesity is a complex, systemic challenge that affects every corner of the globe.  According to the Red Cross, we now live in a world where more people are over-nourished than undernourished.  Moreover, the World Health Organization estimates that at least 2.7 billion people worldwide are either overweight or obese, and that figure will likely increase to 3 billion by 2015.   In Africa, a continent that has experienced more than its share of devastating famine and starvation, many nations are now wrestling with obesity. Today in South Africa, for instance, half of the adult population is said to be obese, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.  In India one in five men are now overweight.  Even in China, one of the world’s healthiest nations, the rate of obesity has tripled over the past 15 years. There are many causes and influences that factor into the global obesity epidemic, while the ultimate solution is a matter of energy balance and physical activity -- a “silver bullet” that is easier said than done. With the world continuing to grow more urban and affluent, and with lifestyles and consumer expectations continuing to change dramatically, the obesity challenge is here for the long-run.  As a company, system and brand, Coca-Cola has a long history of stepping up to the most pressing societal, economic and environmental challenges of our times.  This week we announced a set of actions we are taking to be part of the solution to the obesity challenge in every continent, country and community we serve. Specifically, we commit to: 1)   offer low- or no- calorie beverage options in every market. 2)   provide transparent nutrition information, featuring calories on the front of all of our packages. 3)   help get people moving by supporting physical activity programs in every country where we do business. 4)   market responsibly, including no advertising to children under 12 anywhere in the world. These commitments complement ongoing efforts by our company to invest in new low- and no-calorie sweeteners, smaller package sizes for every occasion, innovations in new beverages, and more transparent communication to our consumers. In Europe, for instance, we now offer 82 low- and no-calorie beverage options, and we were the first in our industry to begin front-of-package calorie information, back in 2006.  In Australia, Korea and Thailand, we’ve successfully introduced new 7.5 ounce mini-cans, an innovation that we will scale to other markets around the world. To reverse the tide of obesity, it’s also going to take strong and close collaboration across the Golden Triangle of business, government and civil society.  This collaboration must be anchored in mutual trust, a common vision, a bias for action, and the highest standards of accountability. We’ve already seen the power of the Golden Triangle at work in projects we’ve started with partners across many markets, including 88 physical activity programs in Europe that have touched 3 million people already.  More than 2 million people have been engaged in our community walk program in 30 cities in China, and half a million students have participated in our Step With It, Singapore! Program. In India and Pakistan, we’ve seen initial success with collaborative efforts to engage 1.5 million young people to participate in our Sprite Street Cricket tournaments.  In Turkey, 200,000 children have benefited from playground-building partnership with the National Ministry of Education. With this week’s announcement, we are asking citizens and stakeholders to work with us, share ideas, insights and concerns, and track our progress (www.comingtogether.com).  We believe this will be another powerful step forward not just for our industry but also for society in creating a healthier and more active world. There’s much more to come. Stay tuned!Ahmet Bozer is the Executive Vice President and President, Coca-Cola International. More Ways Coca-Cola Is Helping Fight Obesity:Coming Together: Partnering for Healthier, Happier, More Active CommunitiesCoke CEO on Global Well-Being CommitmentsCoca-Cola Great Britain Takes Action to Help Fight Against ObesityThe Coca-Cola Company Reinforces Its Commitment to Help America in the Fight Against ObesityGlobal Coke Ads Help Fight Against ObesityCoca-Cola Joins With Pro Sports Teams to Fight Childhood Obesity

With summer just around the corner, there is no better time to get moving with family and friends. I enjoy walking and hiking with my family and of course getting everyone to the pool to beat the heat! Today I’m thrilled to announce that Coca-Cola USA aims to inspire America to “Get the Ball Rolling” this summer by hosting events and programs that celebrate the joy of activity. We are bringing together happiness and movement in a way that only The Coca-Cola Company can. We will strive to inspire 3 million Americans to have a ball getting active this summer, and we hope families and friends across the U.S. will join us. Here’s how:Thousands of Coca-Cola soccer balls will be given out at major events – like the Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper – and through MyCokeRewards.com, the Company’s online affinity program. Every summer weekend – starting June 21, the first day of summer, through Labor Day, September 2 – one Shine by Misfit™ activity tracker will be distributed every hour from sunrise to sunset Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to a lucky individual through MyCokeRewards.com. This stylish activity device allows users to track activities, such as swimming and biking, while syncing with their smartphones.Coca-Cola USA also is encouraging families to be active this summer on behalf of their favorite national, state and local parks. Through the America Is Your Park campaign, kicking off this June, people can turn fitness activities into votes for parks to win recreation grants.Coca-Cola Happiness Trucks will be rolling into town and inspiring people to get on their feet and move to the beat of some of the hottest music during a series of dancing and fitness events all across the country. This summer’s “Get the Ball Rolling” activities build on our Company’s global commitments to help fight obesity and be part of the solution, announced last week. Here in the U.S., we continue to take bold actions with partners to help address obesity in every community we serve. Just last week, in our home state of Georgia, our Chairman & CEO Muhtar Kent, joined by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, announced a nearly $4 million pledge by The Coca-Cola Foundation to support physical activity programs in Atlanta and around the state. At Coca-Cola, we believe that when people come together – and have fun – good things happen. We are committed to being a part of the solution to obesity, and we can’t wait to “Get the Ball Rolling” this summer. We hope you’ll join us! UPDATE: Looking for a way to get active? Join us to “Get The Ball Rolling” in these cities this summer. Stuart Kronauge is General Manager of Sparkling Beverages at Coca-Cola USA.More Ways Coca-Cola Is Helping Fight Obesity:Coming Together: Partnering for Healthier, Happier, More Active CommunitiesCoke CEO on Global Well-Being CommitmentsCoca-Cola Great Britain Takes Action to Help Fight Against ObesityThe Coca-Cola Company Reinforces Its Commitment to Help America in the Fight Against ObesityGlobal Coke Ads Help Fight Against ObesityCoca-Cola Joins With Pro Sports Teams to Fight Childhood Obesity

will.i.am and Coca-Cola partnership launches new pilot program with non-profit Sustainable South Bronx to help local residents recycle New York City, May 15, 2013 – EKOCYCLE, will.i.am and Coca-Cola have a message for South Bronx residents:  Let’s recycle together!  To help reach that goal, earlier today EKOCYCLE, represented by global music artist will.i.am and The Coca-Cola Company’s Chief Sustainability Officer Bea Perez, presented a $200,000 grant to Sustainable South Bronx. The funding will be used to set up a pilot program that will help local residents recycle their household waste. Within New York’s five boroughs, the South Bronx neighborhood has the lowest recycling rate in New York City. Through EKOCYCLE’s grant to Sustainable South Bronx the new pilot program, which launches May 20, aims to help reverse that trend. As recycling rates continue to climb nationwide, pockets of the country still face major challenges. Recycling levels in New York City are less than half the national average (15 percent vs. 34 percent).  For many neighborhood residents, recycling is complicated by multi-family dwellings or apartment buildings that do not proactively promote the practice. “New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world, and can become an even better place to live by making it easier for residents to recycle,” said will.i.am. “By teaming up with Sustainable South Bronx and Highbridge area residents, EKOCYCLE’s mission is to help kick off this pilot recycling program and encourage residents do their part to contribute to a more sustainable city.” EKOCYCLE – a partnership between will.i.am and Coca-Cola -- envisions a world with zero-waste.  To achieve this goal, EKOCYCLE believes in making an impact beyond the lifestyle products it creates from recycled materials.  Partnering with organizations that share values around recycling and recycling education is an important step in reaching that broader objective. Sustainable South Bronx will use this funding to initiate a recycling pilot project. Through a combination of education, infrastructure and other activities, Sustainable South Bronx hopes to demonstrate how recycling can be dramatically increased in apartment buildings throughout the South Bronx. Sustainable South Bronx will work closely with the Highbridge Community Development Corporation, the non-profit organization located in the Highbridge section of the South Bronx, whose buildings will be the project’s focus. “Residents of the South Bronx who live in large apartment buildings face numerous obstacles that make it difficult to recycle on a regular basis,” said Michael Brotchner, Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx.  “This donation from EKOCYCLE to Sustainable South Bronx will help us kick-start recycling in a set of buildings that is representative of buildings throughout the community. We think that the residents of Highbridge will be very excited to participate in this pilot project, which aims to produce concrete findings on how recycling can best be promoted in the South Bronx.” About EKOCYCLEWith a shared interest in making a positive impact on our world, The Coca-Cola Company and will.i.am have come together to create EKOCYCLE. By educating people about the role of recycling in their lives, EKOCYCLE hopes to inspire a global social movement around recycling and making more sustainable purchasing choices. EKOCYCLE repurposes items such as plastic bottles for use as recycled content in fashion-forward lifestyle products through the help of today’s biggest trendsetters and brands. To further reinforce The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to promoting recycling, the Coke® brand name – spelled backwards, “EKOC” – is embedded into the EKOCYCLE moniker. “EKOCYCLE brings together strong brands and a cultural icon to engage people in an important sustainability initiative,” said Bea Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer, The Coca-Cola Company. “EKOCYCLE encourages recycling by innovatively transforming recycled materials into attractive products. It’s a journey that presents a win-win proposition.” EKOCYCLE offers a full line of apparel and lifestyle items promoting environmental responsibility.  Among the products available are limited edition Levi’s 501® Waste<Less™ jeans, Beats Studio® headphones from Beats by Dr. Dre® , a selection of caps from New Era®, A limited-edition adidas Feel Good® Tee and boardshorts and T-shirts from RVCA.  To learn more about the EKOCYCLE brand initiative and shop for EKOCYCLE products visit EKOCYCLE.com. EKOCYCLE can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. About Sustainable South BronxFounded in 2001, Sustainable South Bronx is a non-profit organization that works to address economic and environmental issues in the South Bronx — and throughout New York City — through a combination of green job training, community greening programs, and social enterprise. About will.i.amA multi-faceted entertainer, creative innovator and philanthropist, will.i.am is best known for his work with The Black Eyed Peas, who have sold 33 million albums and 58 million singles worldwide. will.i.am’s new solo cd, #willpower on Interscope Records, was released in April , 2013. The first two singles include worldwide platinum hit “This is Love” featuring Eva Simons, and “Scream & Shout” featuring Britney Spears, which shot to number one on the iTunes single chart and to top three on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. As a producer, will.i.am has worked with some of the music industry’s biggest names including Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, David Guetta and film composer Hans Zimmer. will.i.am is the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, two NAACP Image Awards, the BMI President’s Award and a 2008 Webby Award. will.i.am's i.am angel foundation (www.iamangelfoundation.org) supports young people through programs focused on education, activities that build STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) skills and college scholarship assistance. The foundation also operates a mortgage relief program and financial literacy workshops. About The Coca-Cola CompanyThe 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, the world's most valuable brand, 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 or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com.###

Collectible cans, fresh advertising and dozens of high-profile partners highlight largest ever Coca-Cola summer program   Company sets goal to get 3 million people active this summerPrizes every hour, exclusive deals and a host of special events and experiences will help millions enjoy the best of summerEnter to Win VIP trips to the “iHeartRadio Coca-Cola Open For Summer Kick Off Concert” with Trace Adkins and the “iHeartRadio Live Coca-Cola Summer Concert Series” featuring artists including Of Monsters and Men and Jason DeRulo Atlanta – May 14, 2013 -This summer, when you open a Coke, you’ll open all the goodness the season has to offer. From beaches, barbeques and concerts to ballparks, theme parks and national parks, Coca-Cola will open opportunities for fun and celebration all season long.Dozens of high-profile partners will offer hot prizes, cool experiences and special deals as part of Coca-Cola’s Open For Summer campaign. The Company’s largest summer initiative to date will help families get out and get active, with a focus on the season’s most beloved pastimes. “There’s nothing quite like an ice-cold Coke on a hot day, and we’ll be there every step of the way as people enjoy the very best of summer,” said Stuart Kronauge, General Manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola North America Group. “We’ve assembled an unprecedented list of partners to help families make the most of the season.” MyCokeRewards.com/summer will be the hub for summertime fun, with giveaways every hour, every day through Labor Day -- and prizes being awarded range from tickets, gift cards and premium items to once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  Among the exciting options up for grabs are: Trips for four (including airfare, hotel transportation and spending money) to some of America’s favorite theme parks VIP golf trips for two to Pinehurst and Pebble BeachWeekend fishing trip for two with a professional angler Trip to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Advocare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a 160 MPH ride-along in a real stock carVIP concert getawaysMovie tickets for a year Prize giveaways are offered through exclusive Coca-Cola Open For Summer partnerships with a variety of iconic brands.  They include AMC Theatres, Bass Pro Shops, Busch Gardens, Carmike Cinemas and Cedar Fair Amusement Parks -- including Cedar Point, Knott's Berry Farm and Knott's Soak City. Also participating are Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Coppertone, Delta Airlines, Hilton HHonorsTM, Holiday Inn® Resort, SeaWorld, McDonald’s, NASCAR, the PGA of America, Sheraton® Hotels and Resorts, Six Flags, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Universal Orlando® Resort, Universal Studios HollywoodSM and more. Online at CokeSummer.com, visitors can view an interactive film that features iconic summer moments.  They can also open video that reveal related content and offers. The experience inspires fans to capture their #BestSummerMoment and share photos of those moments via social media. Coca-Cola will be celebrating these fan-shared moments in a unique way throughout the summer, both on the CokeSummer.com site and on its own social channels. Get the Ball Rolling Complementing “Coca-Cola Open For Summer,” the Company has set a goal to inspire 3 million people to get active this season.  The initiative, “Get the Ball Rolling,” encourages millions across America to rediscover the joy of being active through a variety of Coca-Cola sponsored activities and events. Every summer weekend – starting June 21, the first day of summer, to Labor Day, September 2 – Coca-Cola will award one Shine™ activity tracker by Misfit every hour from sunrise to sunset Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to a lucky individual through MyCokeRewards.com. This elegant device allows users to track activities, such as swimming and biking, while syncing with their smartphones. Special Packaging Limited-edition Coca-Cola packaging will appear on store shelves in May, just in time for the start of summer. Six different designs depicting iconic images of summer’s most celebrated pastimes – including food, wave, sports, travel, entertainment and outdoors – will be featured.  Cans, outer packaging and specially marked 12-pack and 20- and 24-can packs will feature unique codes that unlock rewards at www.mcr.com/summer.Advertising Open For Summer advertising, including television, digital, out-of-home and mobile, will showcase the joy and celebration of everyone’s favorite season. A new TV spot showcasing a montage of moments synonymous with summertime, will debut during the finale of “American Idol” (May 15-16 on FOX). Open For Summer ads also will appear across social and digital platforms such as AOL and Facebook. Coca-Cola worked with Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Ore., to develop the creative, which is part of the brand’s Open Happiness global marketing campaign. Open For Summer Kickoff Concert Coca-Cola will drop the green flag on summer this Memorial Day weekend with a special event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, home of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. The iHeartRadio Coca-Cola Open For Summer Kickoff Concert, a free event for all Coca-Cola 600 ticketholders, will be headlined by country music star Trace Adkins. Josh Thompson will open the show, which will include appearances by Coca-Cola Racing Family members. The iHeartRadio Coca-Cola Open For Summer Concert featuring Trace Adkins will stream across more than 100 Clear Channel Mainstream Country stations nationwide. The 60-minute Memorial Day special broadcast event on Monday, May 27, also will air on iHeartRadio's Country Road Radio at 12 p.m. EST. The long-term partnership with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment also will include the iHeartRadio Live Coca-Cola Summer Concert Series. The series will feature intimate performances with artists such as Of Monsters and Men and Jason Derulo at the iHeartRadio Theater in New York City. Open For Summer content will be showcased across Clear Channel’s radio stations and websites nationwide. Local DJs will amplify the campaign and give listeners a chance to win a VIP experience at one of the iHeartRadio Live Coca-Cola Summer Concerts. Coca-Cola and iHeartRadio, Clear Channel's industry-leading digital music platform, will begin a co-branded integrated national cinema advertising campaign across AMC, Regal, Carmike, Cinemark and independent theatres. The co-branded spots will celebrate the partnership, encourage downloads of iHeartRadio and amplify the “Open For Summer” campaign. Additionally, a Coke branded digital-only custom station will launch this summer on iHeartRadio. It is available across all major platforms including web, mobile, tablets, automotive, television and gaming devices.  Experiential The Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper is an award-winning mobile marketing unit that will cool things down at more than 100 events throughout the summer. Expected to host approximately 500,000 people, it features an ice bar with a "perfect serve" Coca-Cola sampling experience. Blasts of frosty air will provide refreshing relief from the summertime heat and a DJ will crank up the volume.  Visitors can also enjoy interactive gaming, a video studio and photo station. To encourage people to get outside and enjoy active fun, Coca-Cola is giving away 100,000 soccer balls and fitness activity trackers at Swelter Stopper locations and other events and celebrations all summer. Coca-Cola Happiness Trucks will also be rolling into town at a series of dancing and activity events across the country. The interactive vehicles will  inspire people to get on their feet and move to the beat of some of the hottest music. People will also have the opportunity to sample mini-cans of Coca-Cola. America is Your Park Coca-Cola is also encouraging families to be active this summer on behalf of their favorite national, state and local parks. Through the America Is Your Park campaign, kicking off this June, people can turn fitness activities into votes for parks to win recreation grants. For 127 years Coca-Cola has brought people and communities together. Today, that tradition continues through the Company’s support of 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.coke.com/comingtogether. About The Coca-Cola CompanyThe 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, the world's most valuable brand, 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 or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com. About Misfit WearablesMisfit invents and manufactures wearable sensing devices that inspire people be more active and develop healthy habits. Misfit’s first product, the Shine, is an elegant wireless personal activity tracker that you can wear anywhere on your body, using different accessories, and because of its sleek all-metal construction, can be worn to any occasion: a black tie event, the office, or a friend's birthday party. Simply tap Shine and a halo of lights appear to tell you how close you are to completing your personal daily activity goal. Carved out of a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum, it was built to last a lifetime and is water-resistant for swimming. www.misfitwearables.com/shine

After launching in 1998 in Mexico, Copa Coca-Cola has expanded to reach young soccer players around the world. The long-running physical activity program gives teams of boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 15 the opportunity to compete in tournaments at the local, state and national levels. National competitions culminate in a World Cup-style international championship each summer. Copa Coca-Cola has impacted 125,000 teens in more than 10 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. In the east African nation of Burundi, a 20-year-old university student will always remember the day the renowned program changed his life. Here’s his story: My name is Emery Nduwimana. My mother died when I was four years old, and I went to live with my father. Dad mistreated me, so I moved again and went to stay with my uncle, who took me to school. After awhile and facing much difficulty, I ran away from the village to the city and became a street child for two months. It was rough on the streets. I was often hungry and walked around in search of food. Then one day, I saw a man standing outside a children’s orphanage. At first, I didn’t know what happened on the other side of the gate. All I saw when I peeped in was the number of children playing in the compound. I asked the man what this place was, and he told me it was a children’s home. He asked me if I was an orphan, and I said yes. Then he told me that if I wanted to join the children, I had to pay him some money. All I had in my tattered pockets was 300 Burundi Francs ($.20), which the man accepted. He took me to the orphanage and introduced me to one of the caretakers, who asked me some questions. I remember lying about the province I came from – I didn’t want them to take me back home. The caretaker told me that the children at the home were unruly, but I was well behaved. That is why they accepted me.  I stayed at the home for one year. While I was there, my mother’s brother heard that I had left my paternal family. He started looking for me. After searching for many days, and in what seemed to be a stroke of divine providence, my uncle parked his cab outside the children’s home where I stayed. He asked anyone he met whether they knew me. One of the people he spoke to was a child from the home who later introduced me to my uncle. I had no idea who he was. But blood is thicker than water. My uncle recognized me, and as we started talking, my memory began to piece him together. He asked the home to release me so I could move in with him. The caretaker asked me what I thought. I said I wanted to go and live in a family. The children’s home was saddened because I was the only one, out of 60 children, who went to school. The rest were delinquents. At the age of eight, I left the home. For the last 12 years, I have lived with my uncle, aunt and two cousins. My uncle has provided everything I need – food, shelter, clothing, education and the genuine love of family. Despite the upheavals in my life, the only constant has been my love for football. My uncle saw my interest in the game, but he didn’t want me to play although I was part of the school team. He insisted I focus on my education so I could have a better future. In 2010, the year the FIFA World Cup™ came to Africa, my uncle heard that Copa Coca-Cola was in town and that they would host an international camp in South Africa just before the world soccer games. I wanted to be part of it. The idea of being a Copa Coca-Cola football star was exciting to me. I prayed hard to be selected. My uncle helped me to pray, too. When Coca-Cola came recruiting, I was there, and they picked me. I guess they’re right when they say nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. My uncle relented and started taking me to practice. My school team played all the way to the finals, and he was there at the closing match when I was announced as the top scorer of the tournament. I didn’t see it, but my friend said he saw my uncle cry. He was so happy that his prayers had been answered.  I also was selected to watch a FIFA World Cup match in South Africa. Can you imagine that? One day I was scavenging the streets of Bujumbura for food, and the next, I was airborne enjoying a warm meal 30,000 feet above sea level! It was electrifying to watch the match between Ghana and Serbia. I felt like the people in “TV land” could see me and I could see them! I now study at the University of Burundi, and I want to play professional football to help my family. In Burundi, soccer is not a means of livelihood. One has to have a job as well. My favorite international team is Barcelona, and I’m inspired by Lionel Messi and coach Tito Vilanova. Locally, my favorite club is Vitalo, and I enjoy watching coach Saido Ntibazonkiza and player Gilbert Kanyenkore in action. Copa Coca-Cola wiped away my tears. It’s amazing how this football tournament has boosted my self-esteem and given me a reason to believe. When I lost my mum, life as I knew it was over. But now, I have a second chance. I can see a bright a future ahead, and I know I will make it. I’m playing the game I love and living with my uncle and his family. He is my number-one fan. I haven’t seen dad since I left home, but I would like to see him again and share the love he didn’t give me. If only he could see me now. Stella Kiguta-Ng’ang’a is the public affairs and communications manager for Coca-Cola Central, East and West Africa. With head offices in Nairobi, Kenya, Coca-Cola and its bottling partners serve 650 million consumers in East Africa, Nigeria, West Africa, the Horn region and Islands. Follow Stella on Twitter @stellanganga.

Healthy changes are taking place at Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) chapters around the country because of a program called Triple Play. When the BGCA and The Coca-Cola Company first partnered on the Triple Play program in 2004, the “holistic approach to health and wellness” was geared toward children ages 6 to 18. Since then, the program has grown from about 170,000 participants in 2004 to nearly 1.2 million participants in 2011. Triple Play teaches young people new ways to eat nutritiously, increase physical fitness and form positive relationships with peers and adults. The three prongs must work together. “It’s all about balance. You can’t focus on just one component; it’s all about integrating the three. When kids learn the appropriate mix between foods and beverages, physical activity and friendship, that’s when they start to show a sustainable lifestyle,” says Erika Von Heiland Strader, director, community marketing, Coca-Cola North America. Sustainability might be the most apt word to describe the history between The Coke and the BGCA. “Our system has supported and realized the value of having strong relationships with local nonprofits since the early 1900s,” says Quinton Martin, vice president of community marketing, Coca-Cola North America. The Coca-Cola Company began a more formal relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of America after Robert W. Woodruff was introduced to the then Boys Club of America through its longtime advocate President Herbert Hoover. One Size Doesn't Fit All The idea was to create something that would be meaningful to the kids, rather than something that was merely meeting certain standards, says Martin. “The BGCA knows how to talk to kids; it’s what they do best. They’re very good at creating platforms that make learning fun.” As the program grew, the partners enlisted the help of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make sure that the data and science put into the program were correct. “That’s the first and most important piece: We didn’t want to go on anyone’s opinions. We wanted the best science possible,” he says. The most important lesson in this BGCA partnership may be “one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to body, mind and soul,” says Martin. “If a kid isn’t competitive, there are still ways to get that kid to be more active without pushing him or her into team sports. It’s all about kids, and kids feeling good about themselves.” One of the Triple Play initiatives that has shown great promise is the Leadership Summit, which flows from Leadership Clubs in nationwide BGCA chapters. These Clubs, part of the Triple Play “Body” segment, allow young adult BGCA members to model their Triple Play healthy, active lifestyles, but they also allow these leaders to create and implement new activities and opportunities for their younger community members to gain new, positive behaviors. From learning to identify proper portion sizes to strengthening character through recreation, the Leadership Clubs reinforce the goals of the program — but they also introduce extra variety into chapter programs. Reaching the Kids The club members who attended the Triple Play Leadership Summit joined forces with notable Olympic athletes and youth leaders to provide a forum for young people to develop their own solutions for confronting the obesity crisis in their communities. The Leadership Summit took place at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and featured American boxer Marlen Esparza, who earned the bronze medal in Women’s Boxing at the 2012 Olympics. The weekend symposium focused on community action and engaged approximately 127 Boys & Girls Club kids and staff — representing 42 Clubs from around the U.S. — who were selected based on their commitment to enriching and improving their communities. At the conclusion of the event, participating youth developed action plans for how they will combat obesity in their own communities by the end of the year. The young leaders will implement such activities as cleaning up parks, reforming school lunch menus, and organizing walks and runs to help put other young people on a better path for healthy lifestyles. At the event, Boys & Girls Club kids participated in a mini-Olympics experience where they received hands-on tips from Olympians in a variety of sports. They also engaged in various training activities, including broadcast journalism, public relations and community service. All participants also took part in at least 60 minutes of exercise during their stay. Given the current concerns about obesity, the Triple Play effort is an important way to reach young people directly about how this problem affects their communities. “Physical activity and nutrition education are the most important, teachable components of health and wellness,” says Von Heiland Strader. “By supporting the Triple Play program and the Triple Play Leadership Summit, we are not only preparing youth to live more active lives — we are preparing them for brighter futures.”

The Company sets goal to inspire 3 million people to get their “Fun” on this summer by making activities and sports gear available all summer long Atlanta, May 13, 2013 – Following The Coca-Cola Company’s announcement of its global wellbeing commitments last week, Coca-Cola USA gears up for a summer of activity and fun with its “Get The Ball Rolling” initiative.  “Summer is a great time of year for people to come together to enjoy activities and sports that make them happy,” said Stuart Kronauge, General Manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola USA. “We’re taking programs and events to which we have access and making sure that people who participate in them rediscover the joy and fun of being active.” Coca-Cola USA will “Get the Ball Rolling” this summer with events available to millions across America. Here are a few fun ways people can refresh their summer with activity: Thousands of Coca-Cola soccer balls will be given out at major events – like the Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper – and through MyCokeRewards.com, the Company’s online affinity program. Every summer weekend – starting June 21, the first day of summer, to Labor Day, September 2 – one Shine™ activity tracker by Misfit will be distributed every hour from sunrise to sunset Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to a lucky individual through MyCokeRewards.com. This elegant device allows users to track activities, such as swimming and biking, while syncing with their smartphones. Coca-Cola USA is encouraging families to be active this summer on behalf of their favorite national, state and local parks. Through the America Is Your Park campaign, kicking off this June, people can turn fitness activities into votes for parks to win recreation grants.Coca-Cola Happiness Trucks will be rolling into town and inspiring people to get on their feet and move to the beat of some of the hottest music during a series of dancing and activity events across the country. Coca-Cola USA’s “Get The Ball Rolling” effort contributes to the Company’s global commitments to help fight obesity and be part of the solution, announced last week by Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. These commitments include:  Offer low- or no-calorie beverage options in every market.Provide transparent nutrition information, featuring calories on the front of all of our packages.Help get people moving by supporting physical activity programs in every country where we do business.Market responsibly, including no advertising to children under 12 anywhere in the world.The Coca-Cola Company continues to make the health of communities around the country a priority. We are working together with willing organizations, individuals and government to be part of the solution to obesity. Through collaborative partnerships and programs, the Company is delivering more beverage choices, calorie information and physical activity opportunities than ever before. To learn more, visit www.coke.com/comingtogether. 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, the world's most valuable brand, 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 or visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com. About Misfit WearablesMisfit invents and manufactures wearable sensing devices that inspire people be more active and develop healthy habits. Misfit’s first product, the Shine, is an elegant wireless personal activity tracker that you can wear anywhere on your body, using different accessories, and because of its sleek all-metal construction, can be worn to any occasion: a black tie event, the office, or a friend's birthday party. Simply tap Shine and a halo of lights appear to tell you how close you are to completing your personal daily activity goal. Carved out of a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum, it was built to last a lifetime and is water-resistant for swimming. www.misfitwearables.com/shine###

Our Goal: To Enable the Economic Empowerment of 5 Million Women Entrepreneurs Across Our Global Value Chain by 2020 Women From All Walks of Life, at Every Point in Our Value Chain Women around the world are already pillars of our business system. We are building on that foundation by implementing programs to help women entrepreneurs throughout the Coca-Cola value chain -- from fruit farmers to artisans. View the Coca-Cola Value Chain What Empowerment Looks Like Through 5by20, we address the most common barriers women face when trying to succeed in the marketplace. This initiative offers women access to business skills training courses, financial services and connections with peers or mentors -- along with the confidence that comes with building a successful business. Our Partners To reach 5 million women across our value chain, we collaborate with governments, civil society and other businesses. Here are just a few of our partners worldwide. The Women Who Are Impacted Hundreds of thousands of women around the world are building stronger businesses, families and communities after participating in 5by20. Go to our map to watch videos to hear firsthand from several of these women. 'Half the Sky' and Coca-Cola The Half the Sky Movement is cutting across platforms to ignite the change needed to put an end to the oppression of women and girls worldwide, the defining issue of our time. Inspired by journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's book of the same name, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, brings together video, websites, games, blogs and other educational tools to not only raise awareness of women's issues, but to also provide concrete steps to fight these problems and empower women. The Coca-Cola Company is a proud supporter of the Half the Sky movement. Visit our 5by20 News Center

The blog below reflects my recent participation in “Green Growth in the Agro-food Chain: What Role for the Private Sector?” – a workshop hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD . I had the opportunity to represent “the private sector” voice, and the processing community in a very productive discussion on the role that companies play in driving “green growth” in the agriculture sector. When I think about the term “green growth” and its relation to our agro-food chain, I realize Coca-Cola’s success is, in part, because we have and continue to integrate green growth into our business model and strategy. At Coca-Cola, we’ve learned a few things over the years about the private sector’s potential to promote green growth.  When we have asked ourselves how we can do more with less, we’ve seen real social and environmental impacts in the communities that we serve as well as financial benefits for the business. This is an important message that needs to be communicated across the private sector. My remarks last week mainly touched on the following two points: valuing nature and the importance of cross-sector partnerships to maximize impact. Our business depends on nature and her resources for the supply of freshwater and agricultural ingredients.  But how do we begin to recognize the value of these services?  At Coca-Cola, we identified the natural resource we use most for our beverages: water.  By focusing on our primary ingredient, we have the opportunity to make the greatest impact.  Coca-Cola is working to “give back” or replenish the amount of water used in our beverages and their production.   But, we can’t do it alone.  At Coca-Cola, we rely on partnerships that connect across the “Golden Triangle” of business, government and civil society around issues of sustainability. Coca-Cola has developed strong partnerships with organizations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), TechnoServe, the United Nations Development Program and the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide expertise and help drive sustainable, “green” growth. Since 2007, our partnership with WWF has yielded several successful ventures, including the multiple projects on sustainable sugarcane cultivation and the farmer-led Project Catalyst. It’s extremely encouraging to note that our partnerships have facilitated and enabled our collaboration with countless other stakeholders, including local NGOs, communities, and the farmers and growers themselves. We also work with The Nature Conservancy, Field to Market, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and corn farmers to implement conservation practices that return water to nature, build soils for increasing productivity, and restore wetlands to enhance biodiversity. Partnerships like these allow the best of each party’s approach to improve the way global environmental challenges are addressed. Together, we accomplish more and create more opportunities than we could possibly do alone. Continuing the conversation, this week Coca-Cola will participate in the 2013 World Economic Forum on Africa, in Cape Town, South Africa. The Forum will provide an important platform for regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to deepen the continent’s integration agenda and renew commitment to a sustainable path of growth and development. Coca-Cola representatives will be participating in several sessions focused on our partnerships in the sustainable agriculture sector, including exciting developments for Project Nurture and the Grow Africa Agricultural Investment Forum.  Without a doubt, the conversations will continue to demonstrate the value that our cross-sector partnerships have around the world, every day.Denise Knight is Global Director of the Sustainable Agriculture Program at The Coca-Cola Company.More Stories:#WFD2012: How Small Scale Farmers Impact Daily Lives of ConsumersWater in Ghana: Making a Scarcity PlentifulSlingshot: Inventor Dean Kamen's Revolutionary Clean Water MachineIn Ecuador, Recycled Bottles Become Playgrounds, a Library and More