PepsiCo Foundation commits $1.5m toward Japan disaster relief and recovery

The PepsiCo Foundation announced today its commitment of $1.5 million to non-profit partners leading relief and recovery efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. This commitment will support PepsiCo’s humanitarian and business partners on the ground in Japan, providing short- and longer-term assistance to those in the affected areas where the highest needs exist.

“The people of Japan are constantly in our thoughts and the entire PepsiCo family is committed to helping them recover from this terrible tragedy. The humanitarian and relief organizations on the ground are doing incredibly important work and they deserve our support,” said Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chairman and CEO and chairman of the PepsiCo Foundation. “PepsiCo’s nearly 300,000 employees around the world are also eager to help, and the company will be matching their contributions dollar for dollar. Our business partners in Japan are equally committed, and we’re partnering with them to provide needed products and assistance.”

The PepsiCo Foundation’s initial relief contributions will support several identified areas of need:

• $500,000 to the American Red Cross for food, shelter and emotional support
• $250,000 to Save the Children for counseling services, children’s health and family services
• $200,000 to the World Food Programme’s efforts in food distribution
• $50,000 to Aidmatrix in support of their local logistics capability and distribution network

PepsiCo is also working with its key food and beverage business partners in Japan – Calbee (Frito-Lay and Quaker foods), Suntory (soft drinks, water and Gatorade) and Kirin (Tropicana juices) – to aid the disaster response effort through product donations. These companies have already committed funds to the relief efforts and, via both their own logistics networks and through government distribution systems, are supplying donated product to the affected areas. Joint plans are being finalized with all partners for additional product contributions.

PepsiCo will continue to work with Japanese partners following the initial relief phase, and the PepsiCo Foundation has set aside $500,000 to support longer-term rebuilding and recovery efforts.