The Pepsi Bottling Group Honors Its 3,000 U.S. Military Veterans with Donation to...
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
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