PLANO, Texas, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) today announced donations of $1.2 million over the next four years to support its mission to foster physically active, engaged and sustainable communities. DPS will partner with the American Red Cross (ARC) and the Student Conservation Association (SCA), the nation’s leading youth conservation service organization, under its corporate philanthropy program, ACTION Nation.
“The missions of the American Red Cross and the Student Conservation Association align perfectly with two of our philanthropic focus areas,” said Tina Barry, executive vice president, corporate affairs of DPS. “There’s no better vehicle for DPS to support disaster relief initiatives than the Red Cross, and the SCA’s efforts to conserve our natural resources fit very well with our commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Barry added that with these commitments, DPS now has strategic partnerships across three giving platforms established through its ACTION Nation corporate philanthropy program. Late last year, to address its health and wellness focus area, the company announced Let’s Play, a community partnership designed to get kids active nationwide. The first Let’s Play initiative will be a $15 million, three-year commitment to KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit that’s working to ensure there is a great place to play within walking distance of every child. Together, DPS and KaBOOM! will build or fix up 2,000 playgrounds by the end of 2013, benefiting an estimated five million children across North America.
DPS Supporting Red Cross Disaster Relief in Texas and Beyond
Through its $1 million four-year commitment to the ARC, DPS will join the organization’s Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP), composed of a select group of leading corporations that provide the highest level of support to Red Cross relief efforts nationwide. The ADGP helps ensure an immediate response to meet the needs of those affected by disasters of all sizes, at no cost and regardless of income. DPS’s commitment will also support the ARC Dallas Area Chapter’s role in the North Texas Mass Care Task Force, a disaster preparedness group that is a collaboration of the American Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter, The Salvation Army DFW Metroplex Command, the North Texas Food Bank and the Volunteer Center of North Texas.
“Thanks to the support of organizations like Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the Red Cross has a reliable funding base for disaster relief services,” said Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “This enables the Red Cross to respond immediately to the needs of individuals and families impacted by disaster anywhere in the United States, providing food, shelter, emotional support, and other essential assistance to disaster victims.”
DPS and SCA to Partner on Conservation Service Events, College and Graduate Internships
The $200,000 engagement with the SCA makes DPS the nonprofit’s exclusive beverage sponsor in 2011. Throughout the year, DPS and SCA will collaborate to help create sustainable communities through a series of conservation service events (e.g., restoration of parks, trails and other natural resources) involving DPS employees and community members. In addition, DPS’s commitment will enable the SCA to provide opportunities for college and graduate students to complete internships in conservation and environmental services that restore and preserve public lands nationwide.
“Dr Pepper Snapple Group shares SCA’s values of environmental stewardship and citizen service, and this partnership will transform our environment and communities for years to come,” said Dale Penny, president of SCA. “We look forward to engaging new friends and neighbors in conservation service and are deeply appreciative of DPS’s generous support.”
For more information on DPS’s philanthropic efforts and sustainability goals, read “Sustainability in ACTION,” the company’s 2010 corporate social responsibility report, available at http://dpsg.com/sustainability.
About Dr Pepper Snapple Group:
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) is the leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 9 of our 12 leading brands are No. 1 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Mott’s, Squirt, Hawaiian Punch, Penafiel, Clamato, Schweppes, Venom Energy, Rose’s and Mr & Mrs T mixers. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit www.drpeppersnapple.com.
About the Student Conservation Association:
The SCA is a nationwide conservation force of college and high school-aged members who serve America’s parks, forests, refuges, seashores and communities. Since 1957, SCA’s active, hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and save the planet. SCA is a nonprofit organization with offices in Boise, ID, Charlestown, NH, Oakland, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, Seattle, WA and Washington, D.C. For further information, visit www.thesca.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.