PBG Supports The HORD Foundation

On June 6, 2008 Michelle Belasco (center) had the distinguished pleasure of presenting $2,500 scholarships to T’Shaya Taft (left) and Pia Simone (right) of Danbury Connecticut.  The event was held at Western State Connecticut University.  The HORD Foundation, Inc was established in January 1993 by Noel and Cora Hord to promote education and enhance the career opportunities of minority young people by providing post secondary school scholarships and other assistance for education.  Both Pia and T’Shaya, who are best friends, will be attending Southern Connecticut University, majoring in business.

PepsiCo China provides instant support of RMB 1 Million
to help the Victims of the Sichuan Province Earthquake

May 14, 2008 - PepsiCo China quickly jumped in to support the relief efforts after a major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County of Sichuan province on May 12, 2008. By the very next day, PepsiCo China donated RMB 1 million (approximately $120,000 US) to the Red Cross Society of China to help the victims.

Additional efforts are being made through product donations, including over 60,000 bottles of beverages including Pepsi, Guo Bin Fen and Gatorade, and 60,000 packages of Lay’s Potato Chips, Cheetos and Quaker Oats products. The Bottling Plant in Sichuan and the Foods team in Chengdu are making the delivery of the goods possible.

Employees throughout China have also spontaneously organized donation activities for both money and goods. PepsiCo employees around the world remain deeply concerned about the disaster and its impact on people’s lives. All Pepsi employees in China are safe and accounted for.

Florida MU Employees Participate in
15th Annual Hispanic Business and Consumer Expo

May 13, 2008 - On Friday, April 18th through Sunday, April 20th, nearly 20 Florida Market Unit employees participated in the 15th Annual Hispanic Business & Consumer Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. With more than 30,000 attendees, the Hispanic Business & Consumer Expo is recognized as the largest business expo targeting the Hispanic market in the nation.

PBG partnered with PepsiCo’s Adelante group (Hispanic affinity group) to create a “super booth” decked out with three pallets of Pepsi products. The Expo provided the MU with a great opportunity to discuss careers at PBG, hand out “Get a Great Job” cards, showcase the Pepsi brand to a key ethnic group and reinforce our commitment to diversity.

Pictured from left: James Slaughter, Javier Gonzalez, Rudy Vazquez, Stephanie Haraputczyk, Efren Colon, Jose Maldonado.

Network of Executive Women Comes Together at PBG

May 9, 2008 - PBG is happy to announce that it has initiated a pilot program with the Network of Executive Women, an affinity-based organization focused on the development, retention and advancement of women within the consumer products and retail industry. Our national rollout of the pilot has begun, and already our Southeast Business Unit is off to a great start in leveraging the relationship in their local markets. On Friday, April 18, 2008, nine women leaders of the SEBU leadership team attended the spring meeting in Tampa, Florida.

Dave Fitts, VPGM in the Philadelphia market is also an active member of NEW. He is shown here with the guest speaker and other participants at a Philadelphia Regional Committee meeting.

For more information on this organization, please visit www.newonline.org; or contact Michelle Belasco at 914-767-6085 or michelle.belasco@pepsi.com.

PBG Stockton Hydrates the Fiesta

May 7, 2008 - Diana Navas, Sr. HR Representative, sends us the following news from PBG’s Central Valley MU:

“While it was actually 4 de Mayo, the streets of downtown Stockton, California, filled with red, green and white, as floats displaying the colors of Mexico’s flag cruised by in Stockton’s annual Cinco de Mayo Parade. What made a difference this year was a shade of blue as a Pepsi truck joined the fiesta next to Aztec dances, lowrider cars, Latino iconic figures and commercial floats.

“This was the first time PBG joined the Cinco de Mayo Parade in Stockton. The team sampled Tava and Pepsi to more than 25,000 people in attendance. Cinco de Mayo is as much a piece of California history as it is a symbol of Latino identity and unity. The festivities, which honor the first Mexican victory against Maximilian's French army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862, were born in California as a way for Latinos living outside the country to show patriotic support for Mexico.

“While the Parade was the start to a day-long celebration of Mexican American culture, people of all cultures lined up to watch the spectacle and enjoy Pepsi products.”

PBG Foundation Grants $2500 to Fresno State University
Hispanic Business Student Association

April 28, 2008 - Pete Fisher, HRM - Central Valley writes:

“We had a great event last week at Fresno State University. The PBG Foundation delivered a $2,500 grant to the Fresno State University Hispanic Business Student Association (FSU HBSA). The presentation of the check was made Monday, April 21, 2008. The FSU HBSA is a great organization whose goal is to bring together the students of FSU to promote and develop their interests in the field of business. It is a recognized chapter of the National Hispanic Business Association. FSU HBSA is also connected with a large number of community outreach programs for the Fresno area.”

The picture, taken at the check presentation ceremony shows the HBSA giving PBG two plaques to recognize our sponsorship. From left to right Sergio Salas, Vice President of the FSU HBSA, Candace Stancoff, Territory Sales Manager and Fresno State alum, Ron Castillo, Production Supervisor, Pete Fisher, HRM, and Sonny Botello, President of the FSU HBSA.

PBG Sr. Manager – Community & Multicultural, Michelle Belasco
Speaks at 2008 Women of Power Summit

Michelle Belasco was asked to share her thoughts on her participation at the 2008 Women of Power summit. Click here to hear what Michelle had to say.