PEPSICO DONATES US$ 1 MILLION TO #FOOTBALL4REFUGEES AND ROLLS OUT SOCIAL INITIATIVE WITH PEPSI®

- LATEST DONATION BY THE PEPSICO FOUNDATION BRINGS ITS TOTAL HUMANITARIAN RELIEF PLEDGED TO THE GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS TO NEARLY $15 MILLION -

NEW YORK, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo is proud to announce that Pepsi® will be the first global brand to partner with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency for the #Football4Refugees emergency appeal. PepsiCo's philanthropic arm, the PepsiCo Foundation is donating US$ 1 million to #Football4Refugees, and the Pepsi brand will be calling on its network of sports and music talent to drive awareness and donations to the appeal.

In the past decade, the global refugee population has more than doubled. Even before the crisis in Ukraine, 84 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide. As such, the #Football4Refugees appeal has been created to unite the global football community in raising critical funds to provide humanitarian assistance such as shelter and protection for people forced to flee their homes by conflict, war or persecution. #Football4Refugees is calling on players and fans to come together around the world to stand in support of those who have been forced to flee.

With the latest donation, PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation have now pledged nearly US$ 15 million to humanitarian relief for Ukraine as well as supporting refugees in other parts of the world as the needs continue to grow globally. As a brand rooted in the sport, Pepsi advocates football as a means of uniting people around the world and as a force for good. As the first private sector partner to support #Football4Refugees, Pepsi is showcasing the power of football and its brand to engage fans, talents, customers, and employees to encourage further donations to the cause.

To amplify its support and create wide-spread awareness of the emergency appeal, Pepsi will be leveraging its football and music talents to create a "Pass It On" social awareness drive. In the coming days, several world-famous individuals will post short video clips online, announcing their backing of the #Football4Refugees initiative and encouraging their followers to take part and get involved in helping to raise vital funds.

Ram Krishnan, CEO, International Beverages and Chief Commercial Officer for PepsiCo said: "The global refugee crisis continues to affect the lives of so many people. At PepsiCo we want to ensure we are doing everything we can to provide those in need with vital resources and support. We're proud to be working closely with UNHCR, who are doing outstanding work providing humanitarian assistance, among others, through the #Football4Refugees emergency appeal. We hope that the online support from our network of talent over the coming days will help to raise further awareness and funds for this life-changing initiative."

Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner of Refugees, UNHCR commented:
"Across the globe, there are now more than 84 million people who've been forced to flee their homes. From Ukraine to Ethiopia, Colombia to Venezuela, Afghanistan to Bangladesh, the needs of refugees are growing each day. UNHCR needs more partners like PepsiCo and the global football community to bring awareness and resources to those who need it most."

To ensure donations have the greatest impact for people affected by global conflicts, funds will go towards providing shelter, psycho-social support and protection, financial assistance and other life-saving support. UNHCR is on the ground, working day-and-night to help those who need it most.

Head to the @PepsiGlobal social channels to find out more about the players involved, and follow the #Football4Refugees hashtag. Donations to the appeal can be made via unhcr.org/football4refugees 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
[email protected]

About PepsiCo

 PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complimentary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

About The PepsiCo Foundation

Established in 1962, the PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, the Foundation is focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water, and economic opportunity. It strives for tangible impact globally through strategic partnerships and programmes - collaborating with industry peers, local and international organisations, and employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter and are of global importance.

About #Football4Refugees

The #Football4Refugees appeal was created by UNHCR to unite the global football community in raising critical funds to provide humanitarian assistance such as protection, shelter and other survival essentials for refugees displaced by conflict and persecution

About UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, protects people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, protecting millions of people by responding with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights, and helping them build a better future.

SOURCE PepsiCo