PepsiCo to enhance entry to soccer in underserved communities
Building on the partnership with the UEFA Champions League, PepsiCo, Lay’s and Gatorade announce the “Team of Champions” and support eleven local organizations with the gift of the game
PepsiCo, Inc.. announced Team of Champions, a national platform that builds on the company’s global UEFA Champions League partnership and brings the gift of the game to underserved communities.
The $ 1M / £ 716,000 commitment over three years will enable actionable investments on and off the field to use football to create change for Hispanic and Black communities in the US.
“Team of Champions” is supported by international soccer star Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez as he joins the PepsiCo athlete list. On his first national collaboration with Pepsi and Lay, he shares the following: “I am proud to be working with Pepsi and Lay to bring the beautiful game to underserved communities across the country. From access to safe play, equipment and gear to coaching and role models, ‘Team of Champions’ seeks to remove obstacles to play that are harder to move, especially during the pandemic. “
The “Team of Champions” consists of a “Starting Eleven” made up of 11 local organizations in selected cities in the United States, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Washington, DC, Dallas, El Paso and Fort Lauderdale opportunities and access to sport.
PepsiCo donations to the 11 organizations that make up this year’s Team of Champions are aimed at improving the playing field with apparel and equipment such as cleats and balls. Field access; Mentoring, coaching and training; and fan experiences.
“As one of the fastest growing and unifying sports in the US, we saw the opportunity to leverage our largest global platform – the UEFA Champions League – and the game as a driving force,” said Esperanza Teasdale, VP & GM, Hispanic Business Unit PepsiCo Beverages North America.
“PepsiCo, along with our well-known brands Pepsi, Lay’s and Gatorade, is committed to making an impact on our Hispanic and black communities. With ‘Team of Champions’ we build on decades of experience and commitment on and off the field of play in order to balance access to the game and to achieve smiles and opportunities through football. “
Team of Champions is another step in PepsiCo’s Racial Equality Journey, in which the company announced more than $ 570m / £ 408m in 2020 pledges to black and £ 408million over the next five years Hispanic businesses and communities in the US address inequality issues and create opportunity.
“Uniting people through football and sharing the joy of the game is something our brands like Lay’s, Pepsi and Gatorade have been doing for years. We are excited to strengthen our presence and impact in the game and to partner with organizations to invest in Hispanic and black soccer clubs, programs and companies with the aim of driving long-term change and removing systemic barriers in these underserved communities, ” he said Antonio Escalona, SVP & GM, Hispanic Division, PepsiCo Foods North America.
In the run-up to the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League Final, PepsiCo will empower the community across the 11 organizations through a series of content that will be shared across broadcast, social and digital platforms to better understand the impact of each dollar donated .
Football stars and cultural influencers like Santiago Muñoz and Jonathan González will support the program by sharing the stories behind the organizations in their home markets.
