As part of PepsiCo’s weeklong Super Bowl fan appreciation activities, the company today announced that the PepsiCo Foundation will donate $1 million to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting post-9/11 injured service members, veterans and their families, and the caregivers and communities that support them.
The donation will be presented to Bob and Lee Woodruff, co-founders of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, during a special event for military veterans and members of the PepsiCo family on Friday, January 31. The event will be hosted by Jon Stewart and feature performances by superstar Blake Shelton and the West Point Glee Club. Admiral Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be among the special guests in attendance.
“As our country comes together to enjoy and celebrate Super Bowl Sunday, we should also celebrate those who make this day possible, our men and women in uniform,” said PepsiCo’s Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. “The Bob Woodruff Foundation does incredible work to help our nation’s veterans and we are honored to support their mission.”
To allow the general public to share in the evening and drive greater awareness for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, PepsiCo will stream the event live on www.pepsi.com at 9:45 p.m. ET. The web stream will include a click-to-donate button for those who wish to contribute to the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
The Bob Woodruff Foundation will use the PepsiCo Foundation grant to launch a nationwide “Veterans Helping Veterans” initiative, which helps service men and women transition to civilian life and reconnect with their communities. Veterans helping veterans has emerged as an inspiring trend among post-9/11 veterans. As they make the transition into civilian life and their communities, they seek opportunities both for employment and community service while continuing to serve their fellow troops.
“PepsiCo is an iconic American company and we are extraordinarily grateful for their support,” said Bob Woodruff, who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle while reporting from Iraq. “The concept of Veterans Helping Veterans gives those involved a sense of purpose and meaning, regardless of the severity of their injury, and an opportunity to strive to succeed for the betterment of themselves and their brothers and sisters in arms.”
“Heroes walk among us each and every day, and this event is a chance to express our deep appreciation for their service to our country,” said Shelton. “Our military and their families make incredible sacrifices to ensure our freedom and our way of life, and I’m honored to join PepsiCo to support such an important cause.”
Friday night’s event will take place inside #PEPCITY, PepsiCo’s unique Super Bowl venue in New York City’s Bryant Park. Designed to serve as a large-scale “thank you gift” to New York, the activation spans 10,000 square feet and is enclosed by an 80 foot wide by 40 foot high custom-designed dome. PepsiCo is hosting several free events for the public in advance of the Super Bowl.
PepsiCo has a long history of supporting veterans and was named one of the Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers by G.I. Jobs magazine in 2013. Career website Bright.com ranked PepsiCo number one on its Veteran Hiring Index in 2013, which measures veteran hiring among Fortune 50 companies.
Source: PR Newswire
