The FINANCIAL — Tropicana and Habitat for Humanity announced a new, three-year partnership to help build houses along the Gulf Coast and other locations around the country.
Through this partnership, Tropicana, a division of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) aims to advance Habitat for Humanity's affordable housing program by committing $1 million and galvanizing employee volunteers to donate time and funds to help build houses over the next three years.
“Tropicana is proud to establish this partnership with Habitat for Humanity International as part of PepsiCo's commitment to Performance with Purpose ,” said Neil Campbell, president of Tropicana Products North America. “This partnership offers us an opportunity to extend assistance with recovery efforts and help make sure the Gulf Coast receives on-going support. True to the core tenets of PepsiCo's Performance with Purpose initiatives, this commitment extends beyond corporate giving to involve hundreds of Tropicana employees who are eager to roll up their sleeves to make a difference in local communities. We admire Habitat's many accomplishments and look forward to working together to refocus attention on Gulf Coast recovery efforts and providing affordable homes to those in need.”
Performance with Purpose is PepsiCo's corporate social responsibility commitment that focuses on achieving better business performance while simultaneously advancing environmental sustainability, product sustainability and people sustainability. Associates at PepsiCo facilities across the globe are linking business performance goals with community service activities – and often partnering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity – to enrich the lives and improve the communities it serves.
In 2004-06, Tropicana's employees weathered four hurricanes that criss-crossed the state of Florida and resulted in significant damage to the citrus crop. When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf coast, Tropicana North America and its employees donated juice and money, and further resolved to aid the affected residents by rebuilding the damaged areas. “As Habitat for Humanity International works to rebuild Gulf Coast communities, we're thankful to begin this partnership with Tropicana,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “It's important for us to join forces with organizations and people who share our commitment to affordable housing and specifically our efforts of rebuilding the Gulf Coast area.”
Tropicana's partnership with Habitat for Humanity International will help rebuild the Coastal area in many ways. In addition to financial contributions, Tropicana will donate nearly 3,500 gallons of juice in the next three years; they will fund the construction of eight homes and send approximately 1,000 volunteers to help build additional homes throughout various Gulf communities. Tropicana employees are also rolling up their sleeves and investing their own “sweat equity” by participating in home builds as part of PepsiCo's Performance with Purpose commitment to sustainable growth, which focuses on generating healthy financial returns while giving back to communities the company serves.
“The response from our employees has been overwhelming,” said Campbell . “We're all looking forward to building these homes and reminding the public of the continuing need for efforts to restore the Gulf Coast .”
Additional details about the multi-faceted partnership which will include ways for consumers to get involved will unfold in 2008.
Discussion about this post