Diageo's 'Celebrate the Future' Program Awards $60,000 in Scholarships to Chicago-Area Hispanics

NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, the world's leading spirits, beer and wine company, has awarded eight students with a total of $60,000 in scholarships as part of its second annual "Celebrate the Future" Scholarship Fund program. The scholarships were announced during a recent awards dinner held at the National Museum of Mexican Fine Art in Chicago.

"Diageo is pleased to promote education as a path to success," said Diana Fujimura, Marketing Director, Illinois, Diageo North America. "With a focus on supporting students of Hispanic backgrounds over the age of 21, these scholarships underscore Diageo's longstanding commitment to the Latino community," she added.

This year Diageo partnered with the Wirtz Beverage Group, one of the leading alcohol beverage distributors in the country and Diageo's distributor in Illinois. "Wirtz Beverage added a unique component to the program when it agreed to offer two six-month paid internships in the areas of sales and marketing," Fujimura said.

"Our goal is to help open doors and advance careers in our industry," said Danny Wirtz, Vice President of Spirits Marketing and Sales, Wirtz Beverage Group. "Wirtz Beverage is proud to partner with Diageo and offer valuable beverage distribution and sales experience, as well as exposure to different areas of the hospitality and service industry."

The "Celebrate the Future" scholarship recipients were awarded $7,500 each in order to support their continuing education and some of them will be attending Washburne Culinary Institute, Lexington College, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University. The Wirtz Beverage Group internship winner was also recognized at the dinner. The proud recipients for this year are:

• Yajaire Uriostegui
• Luis Deleon
• Laura Ochoa
• Carlos Cuarta  
• Cintia Becerra  
• Pedro Aguilar  
• Pablo Geronimo  
• Ivette Aguirre
• Eddy Gonzalez, Wirtz Beverage Group internship award  

Executives presenting the scholarship checks included Troy Mercer, Marketing Director and Diana Fujimura, Diageo Illinois. Danny Wirtz, Vice President of Spirits Marketing and Sales, Wirtz Beverage Group, presented the internship award.    

"All of us at Diageo congratulate the winners and look forward to watching their careers flourish through the benefits of a solid educational foundation," Fujimura concluded.

The "Celebrate the Future" 2010 Scholarship Fund program featured bilingual point-of-sale materials at participating retailers throughout the Chicago area. Diageo brands participating in the program included Jose Cuervo, Buchanan's, Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Baileys, and Don Julio.

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).

For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

SOURCE Diageo