Coca‑Cola Would Like to Teach the World to "Green" in Perfect Harmony
04-22-2013
ATLANTA, April 22, 2013 – It could be as simple as recycling a plastic bottle, installing a rain barrel or participating in a local cleanup. Everyone can play a part in protecting the planet and Coca‑Cola is helping community organizations across the country do so.
Through grants of all sizes, The Coca‑Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca‑Cola Company, supports water stewardship, community recycling and energy conservation initiatives. These grants make a significant impact by supporting organizations that are reducing our environmental footprint.
For example, a $250,000 grant to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation provides support for watershed conservation efforts along seven miles of the East Fork Bear River in Utah. It is just one of the more than 100 community watershed projects that we support across North America.
In Massachusetts, the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay organization received a $25,000 grant. With this funding, 10,000 young people from more than 100 youth and community organizations will experience environmental education programming.
Working with Keep America Beautiful, the Recycling Bin Grant program provides more than 8,000 recycling bins annually to 100+ local organizations and promotes local community recycling efforts. More than 46 colleges and universities participate, making it easier for students and communities to put their used containers into the recycling system for future sustainable use. Since 2010, more than 29,000 recycling bins have been distributed through the program. Last week, more than 150 communities, including Muskegon Community College in Western Michigan and the City of Dayton, Ohio, were announced as 2013 Recycling Bin Grant recipients.
“One of the priorities of The Coca‑Cola Foundation is to help create vibrant, sustainable communities across the country,” said Sonya Soutus, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications, Coca‑Cola North America Group. “By working with local organizations that promote environmental stewardship, we are helping to build sustainable communities for generations to come.”
Coca‑Cola facilities across the country are supporting Earth Day within their local communities.
- In Columbus, Coca‑Cola will sponsor the Earth Jam Fashion Show to benefit the Ohio Sierra Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Central Ohio. The event will mix fashion, style and a focus on the environment to raise awareness and generate funds for these two organizations. The show will provide more than 1,500 guests an opportunity to peek inside the world of fashion while supporting the Sierra Club’s water initiatives and environmental education programs sponsored by BBBS.
- In Colorado, Coca‑Cola and Colorado State University hosted a fun-filled day in the mountains planting willow trees in the Hayman watershed. Over time, the trees will help restore more than 200 million liters of fresh water for the local Front Range community.
- In Chicago, the Foundation announced a one-time grant to Keep America Beautiful. Through this grant and a match from The Coca‑Cola Company, more than 50,000 recycling carts will roll-out across the city of Chicago. This will support local efforts to give over 600,000 Chicago households a convenient means to recycle by the end of 2013.
- Houston Coca‑Cola sent employee volunteers and their families to clean-up Houston’s Hermann Park. These employee volunteers removed trash/debris and helped clear invasive plants along the Bayou Parkland. Restoring native habitat is vital to water conservation due to the unique nature of native plants especially in Texas and more so in Houston given that the metro area has 3-5 ecosystems. Centrally located, Hermann Park is one of the City of Houston's most popular and historically significant public green spaces.
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 click here.
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 15 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 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 www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.