PURCHASE, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo announced today that it is providing the Haitian Ministry of Health - through the NGOs, Partners in Health and Heifer International - 200,000 bottles of Gatorade, a sports drink which includes electrolytes and carbohydrates, for Hurricane Mathew victims in the southern region of Haiti. Additionally, the PepsiCo Foundation is donating USD $750,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, one growing concern has been the outbreak of cholera and other diseases as a result of a lack of safe water and adequate sanitation for an estimated 1.2 million people, including 500,000 children. There have been at least 1,421 cholera cases reported. Diarrhea and/or vomiting, symptoms of cholera, can lead to dehydration. The correct combination of electrolytes, particularly sodium, plus carbohydrates is critical to enable victims to absorb and retain water and these electrolytes, also help to replace electrolytes lost. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will be delivering the Gatorade to Haiti.
"While the medical community in Haiti is providing victims of cholera the medicines necessary to fight the disease, the lack of access to clean water after patients leave the hospital puts them at high risk for complications," said Hervil Cherubin, Ph.D, Country Director for Heifer International. "Through a public-private partnership between PepsiCo, Heifer International, Partners in Health and the Haitian Ministry of Health, we have access to a vital and beneficial product that we then can get into the hands of the people who need it the most."
In response to the devastation and destruction of Hurricane Matthew and to assist communities in Haiti and the Southeast United States, the PepsiCo Foundation is donating USD $750,000 to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Matthew disaster relief efforts.
"With operations across the U.S. and around the world, we regard these communities as part of the PepsiCo family," said Tony West, PepsiCo General Counsel and President of PepsiCo Foundation. "Public-private partnerships are essential to effectively respond to those in need, and because we are able to collaborate with such incredible partners, we will be able to help our communities recover and thrive once again."
Hurricane Matthew caused severe flooding in several U.S. states with rivers overflowing their banks and dams collapsing. The American Red Cross responded with shelter, food and relief supplies through the support of partners like the PepsiCo Foundation.
"We're extremely grateful for our partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation as we work together to provide people affected by Hurricane Matthew a safe place to stay and comfort during this difficult time," said Gail McGovern, American Red Cross president and CEO. "Thanks to the PepsiCo Foundation's support, the Red Cross has opened dozens of shelters, deployed hundreds of disaster volunteers and staff, and has emergency response vehicles and kits ready to immediately address the needs on the ground in impacted communities."
In Haiti, PepsiCo Foundation's donation will help the American Red Cross continue to distribute immediate relief supplies to aid more than 175,000 residents housed in approximately 200 shelters. American Red Cross and Haitian Red Cross teams have been distributing items to meet people's urgent needs such as cholera prevention kits, hygiene kits and kitchen (cooking) kits. The American Red Cross has also brought in generators and telecommunications equipment to augment support communications capabilities.
Above and beyond the PepsiCo Foundation donations to support the Haitian communities with BRANA of the Heineken Company, our partner bottler in Haiti. To date, BRANA has facilitated a donation of 6,000 cases of water to those in need. We will continue to work with our longtime partner to bring additional support to Haiti in the near future. With our bottler in the Dominican Republic, Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, PepsiCo Latin America donated 1,344 bottles of water for impacted communities in the Dominican Republic. PepsiCo is also working with the Pan American Development Foundation to provide 6,000 cases (37,000 lbs.) of Quaker bars.
In North Carolina, two of our independent bottlers have donated truckloads of Aquafina water to the communities in their greater areas. Pepsi Bottling Ventures has been working with the state's Emergency Management to deliver a little more than 10,000 cases to Fayetteville, Lumberton and Goldsboro. Minges Bottling Group has provided the cities of Greenville and Kinston with more than 280 cases and has donated $10,000 to the Eastern North Carolina Red Cross relief effort. In addition Pepsi Bottling Company donated more than 2,300 cases of Aquafina water. As the state is still under threat from overflowing rivers and continued flooding, the North Carolina bottlers remain engaged with their communities and are prepared to continue supporting them as needed.
The PepsiCo Foundation is already a member of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, which enables the Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process. With this latest donation, the PepsiCo Foundation has given the American Red Cross a total of USD $1.25 million this year.
The PepsiCo Foundation has a long-standing history of working with these relief partners to help communities that have suffered as a result of natural disaster. From hurricanes in the United States, typhoons in the Philippines, and earthquakes in Nepal, Japan and China, PepsiCo, the PepsiCo Foundation and a variety of agencies have come together to provide the support necessary to overcome the initial disaster and to help rebuild communities.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2015, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
About PepsiCo Foundation
Established in 1962, the PepsiCo Foundation is the philanthropic anchor of PepsiCo, collaborating with non-profit organizations to develop innovative solutions to challenges facing underserved communities around the world. In support of PepsiCo's commitment to Performance with Purpose, the PepsiCo Foundation provides grants to eligible non-profit organizations to advance progress in the fields of Human, Environmental, and Talent Sustainability. For more information, visit: www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Global-Citizenship.
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SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc.