The Pepsi Bottling Group Honors Its 3,000 U.S. Military Veterans with Donation to Fisher House Foundation
SOMERS, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
The Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation today announced a charitable
contribution to the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that
provides comfortable family residences for military families at all
major U.S. military hospitals.
The $25,000 donation will be made in honor of the nearly 3,000 PBG
employees who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It's the second
consecutive year that the PBG Foundation has made the contribution.
"At PBG, we believe in letting our employees set our corporate
giving agenda. Supporting military families is a cause that many
people throughout PBG are passionate about, so we regularly seek
opportunities to honor the service of the men and women who defend our
country," said Paula Davis, PBG's Vice President of Corporate
Communications. "We're proud to continue our relationship with the
Fisher House Foundation. They do great work in the military community
and we're honored to assist their efforts."
Founded in 1991, Fisher House has provided housing for more than
120,000 military families who are visiting loved ones at major
military and Veterans Affairs hospitals. Use of the homes, which are
normally within walking distance of a treatment facility, are offered
free of charge. They have saved military families more than $120
million in lodging and associated costs.
"The Pepsi Bottling Group has been a terrific partner in recent
years," said David A. Coker, Fisher House Foundation President. "Major
contributors like PBG greatly enhance our ability to meet the needs of
military families all across the country. Men and women in uniform, as
well as their families, face tremendous emotional strains and
financial burdens. Our mission is to provide comfortable homes away
from home during these difficult times and to play a positive role in
helping military families resume their everyday lives."
There are currently 42 Fisher Houses nationally and overseas in
Germany, located on 18 military installations and 12 VA medical
centers.
The PBG donation will be allocated among five individual
facilities: Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY; Haley VA Medical
Center in Tampa, FL; DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX; Madigan
Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, WA; and the Naval Medical Center in
San Diego, CA.
PBG will also encourage employee volunteer efforts with the Fisher
House as part of the company's PBG WINs (We are Involved Neighbors)
program, which offers matching gifts to non-profit organizations and
grants in recognition of volunteer service.
About The Pepsi Bottling Group
The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. is the world's largest
manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages, with
annual sales of nearly $14 billion. With nearly 70,000 employees
worldwide, PBG has operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Russia,
Spain, Turkey and Greece. For more information, visit the Company's
website at www.pbg.com.
About The Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation
The Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation strives to make a difference
in each community where the company operates. The PBG Foundation
supports community-based organizations that promote diversity, improve
the environment, enhance youth development and strengthen families. It
also supports the nonprofit organizations that matter most to PBG
employees through its PBG WINs (We are Involved Neighbors) program,
which offers matching donations and grants in recognition of employee
volunteer service. PBG donates more than $16 million in financial and
product donations every year through direct corporate contributions as
well as through The Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation.
About the Fisher House Foundation
Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of 42
comfort homes on the grounds of military and VA major medical centers.
The houses are 5,000 to 16,000 square foot homes, with up to 21
suites, donated to the military and Department of Veterans Affairs by
Fisher House Foundation. The Foundation provides support to families
of patients receiving care at the nearby medical center and has
ensured that families of service men and women wounded or injured in
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom do not pay for
their stay at a Fisher House or other base facility if they are on a
wait list. For more information on the work of Fisher House
Foundation, go to www.fisherhouse.org, or call toll-free (888)
294-8560
The Pepsi Bottling Group
Public Relations:
Jeff Dahncke, 914-767-7690
jeff.dahncke@pepsi.com
or
Investor Relations:
Mary Winn Settino, 914-767-7216
msettino@pepsi.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
