ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--School is out and students across the country are enjoying summer break, but The Coca-Cola Foundation isn’t taking time off when it comes to education and youth development. The philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company awarded more than $2 million in grants to 20 organizations across the country during the second quarter, with 80 percent of the funds benefitting education and youth development programs. The other grants support programs dedicated to community; diversity and inclusion; active, healthy living; water stewardship; and community recycling.
This $2 million in grants comes on the heels of The Coca-Cola Foundation’s $1 million grant for China study-abroad programs, which will send approximately 160 students from six U.S. colleges and universities to China to study abroad during the next four years. The grant supports the U.S. State Department’s goal to strengthen ties between the U.S. and China, and President Barack Obama’s vision to see 100,000 American students study abroad in China.
“At Coca-Cola, we believe education is one of the keys to socioeconomic development,” said Lori George Billingsley, Vice President, Community Relations, Coca-Cola Refreshments. “We support education and youth development organizations that teach young people about the countless opportunities they have to better their communities. Most importantly, we support programs that truly empower youth to go out and create positive change.”
Of the more than $2 million recently allocated, more than $1.6 million supports education and youth development programs; $125,000 supports community programs; $100,000 supports a diversity and inclusion program; $165,000 supports active, healthy living initiatives; $25,000 supports a water stewardship project; and $20,000 aids community recycling efforts.
The recent grants are part of more than $8 million that The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded to 51 organizations across the United States in 2011.
Organizations receiving funding include:
Education and Youth Development
100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc., Atlanta, GA, $50,000
100 Black Men of the Bay Area Inc., Oakland, CA, $100,000
Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, $1 million (multi-year grant of $250,000 annually through 2014)
Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, $75,000
Girls Inc. of Central Alabama, Birmingham, AL, $13,000
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library Foundation Inc., Boston, MA, $75,000
National Academy Foundation, New York, NY, $25,000
Tavis Smiley Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, $75,000
Teach for America Inc., New York, NY, $50,000
Think Detroit Police Athletic League Inc., Detroit, MI, $100,000
U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy Inc., Des Moines, IA, $100,000
Community
Georgia Center for Nonprofits, Atlanta, GA, $25,000
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, $100,000
Diversity and Inclusion
National Organization on Disability, New York, NY, $100,000
Active, Healthy Living
Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, $30,000
Kids In Sports, Los Angeles, CA, $30,000
Piedmont Park Conservancy, Atlanta, GA, $30,000
Vive En Forma, Kildeer, IL, $75,000
Water Stewardship
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Inc., Atlanta, GA, $25,000
Community Recycling
Piedmont Park Conservancy, Atlanta, GA, $20,000
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
Since its inception, The Coca-Cola Foundation has donated more than $418 million to sustainable community initiatives across the globe. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please go to http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_coke.html.
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, the Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.7 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. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.