The PepsiCo Foundation to Kickoff Super Bowl Weekend with $1 Million Donation to the Bob Woodruff Foundation

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of PepsiCo's weeklong Super Bowl fan appreciation activities, the company today announced that the PepsiCo Foundation will donate $1 million to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting post-9/11 injured service members, veterans and their families, and the caregivers and communities that support them.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120424/NY93895LOGO )

The donation will be presented to Bob and Lee Woodruff, co-founders of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, during a special event for military veterans and members of the PepsiCo family on Friday, January 31. The event will be hosted by Jon Stewart and feature performances by superstar Blake Shelton and the West Point Glee Club. Admiral Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be among the special guests in attendance.

"As our country comes together to enjoy and celebrate Super Bowl Sunday, we should also celebrate those who make this day possible, our men and women in uniform," said PepsiCo's Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. "The Bob Woodruff Foundation does incredible work to help our nation's veterans and we are honored to support their mission."

To allow the general public to share in the evening and drive greater awareness for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, PepsiCo will stream the event live on www.pepsi.com at 9:45 p.m. ET.  The web stream will include a click-to-donate button for those who wish to contribute to the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation will use the PepsiCo Foundation grant to launch a nationwide "Veterans Helping Veterans" initiative, which helps service men and women transition to civilian life and reconnect with their communities. Veterans helping veterans has emerged as an inspiring trend among post-9/11 veterans. As they make the transition into civilian life and their communities, they seek opportunities both for employment and community service while continuing to serve their fellow troops.

"PepsiCo is an iconic American company and we are extraordinarily grateful for their support," said Bob Woodruff, who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle while reporting from Iraq. "The concept of Veterans Helping Veterans gives those involved a sense of purpose and meaning, regardless of the severity of their injury, and an opportunity to strive to succeed for the betterment of themselves and their brothers and sisters in arms."

"Heroes walk among us each and every day, and this event is a chance to express our deep appreciation for their service to our country," said Shelton. "Our military and their families make incredible sacrifices to ensure our freedom and our way of life, and I'm honored to join PepsiCo to support such an important cause."

Friday night's event will take place inside #PEPCITY, PepsiCo's unique Super Bowl venue in New York City's Bryant Park. Designed to serve as a large-scale "thank you gift" to New York, the activation spans 10,000 square feet and is enclosed by an 80 foot wide by 40 foot high custom-designed dome. PepsiCo is hosting several free events for the public in advance of the Super Bowl.

PepsiCo has a long history of supporting veterans and was named one of the Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers by G.I. Jobs magazine in 2013. Career website Bright.com ranked PepsiCo number one on its Veteran Hiring Index in 2013, which measures veteran hiring among Fortune 50 companies.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation
The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) is the nonprofit dedicated to ensuring injured service members and their families are thriving long after they return home. A national organization with grassroots reach, the Bob Woodruff Foundation complements the work of the federal government — diligently navigating the maze of more than 40,000 nonprofits providing services to veterans — finds, funds and shapes innovative programs, and holds them accountable for results. To date, BWF has invested more than $20 million in public education and solutions, reaching more than a million service members, support personnel, veterans and their families. The Bob Woodruff Foundation was co-founded in 2006 by award-winning anchor Bob Woodruff and his family, whose own experiences inspired them to help ensure the nation's heroes have access to the high level of support and resources they deserve, for as long as they need it. For more information about the Bob Woodruff Foundation, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org.

About PepsiCo Foundation
Established in 1962, PepsiCo Foundation is the philanthropic anchor of PepsiCo, responsible for providing charitable contributions to eligible non-profit organizations. The Foundation is committed to developing sustainable partnerships and programs in underserved regions that provide opportunities for improved health, environment and education. For more information, visit: http://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Global-Citizenship.  

About Blake Shelton
GRAMMY nominee, Blake Shelton, is CMA Awards' reigning "Male Vocalist of the Year" for the 4^th consecutive year, the 2013 recipient of "Album of the Year" for his current platinum-selling release, Based On a True Story... and is a coach on NBC's Emmy Award-winning musical-competition series "The Voice." Blake is one of the "most versatile of contemporary country singers" (The New York Times). Just off the heels of his multi-week No. 1 smash hit, "Boys 'Round Here," the follow-up single "Mine Would Be You" raced to the top of the charts to mark his 15th No. 1 (10th consecutive) single. "Mine Would Be You" topped the charts for three weeks, making it one of the longest-charting country singles of 2013. His current single, "Doin' What She Likes," is currently Top 40 on the charts and climbing rapidly. Blake has earned a host of other awards and nominations, including three GRAMMY nominations this year for Country Album of the Year and Country Solo Performance and Country Song of the Year nods for "Mine Would Be You." His infectious multi-week No.1, "Honey Bee" still holds the record for the fastest-selling digital Platinum single for a male country solo artist, "To A Purist Mr. Shelton is a savvy student of tradition. To A Would-be outlaw he's forever adding a wink. He's a star who is only as explicit as you want him to be," Jon Caramanica, The New York Times. Blake Shelton's passion for country music and his commitment to mentoring his teammates from The Voice make him an incredible ambassador for country music. For more information please visit: www.BlakeShelton.com

SOURCE PepsiCo