Black History Month

Tampa, FL—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Coca-Cola Beverages Florida (Coke Florida) has committed to donating a total of $50,000 to four local charities as part of the company’s 2018 Black History Month initiatives. The company will host four individual check presentations throughout March, evenly distributing the funds between: 100 Black Men of South Florida, Inc.; Pinellas Education Foundation; 100 Black Men of Jacksonville, Inc.; and LIFT Orlando.

“Our red delivery trucks are in every neighborhood, every day,” said Troy Taylor, Coke Florida’s Chairman and CEO. “We have unique visibility into our local communities, and we’re committed to partnering with these charities, because they reflect our own dedication to celebrating inclusiveness, stimulating economic empowerment, and encouraging education across the Sunshine State.”

“Coke Florida is a local business. We all live and work in Florida,” said Travis Warren, Coke Florida’s Manager, Public Affairs and Community Relations. “This is just one way we’re trying to ‘do good’ in the communities we call home.”

Coke Florida, which is one of two African-American owned Coca-Cola bottlers in the U.S., will hold its first check presentation ceremony on March 10^th, donating $12,500 to the 100 Black Men of South Florida. The donation will support the non-profit’s Dr. Harold Guinyard Leadership Academy (DHGLA), a premier mentoring program for young black men in the South Florida area.

The DHGLA mentoring program is facilitated by top professionals in South Florida who volunteer their time to empower 61 young leaders who attend Saturday sessions throughout the school year. The sessions are structured to incorporate health and fitness, discussions of current events, exposure to professionals in various careers, and lessons related to each grade level. During the year, the young leaders are out in the community feeding the homeless, visiting cultural sites, attending shows, conducting service trips, and participating in spring break and summer programs for career exposure. Each graduate of the program is awarded a four-year college scholarship.

 

Details about the other three organizations, and the remaining check presentations, will be released to local media in their respective markets.

About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is a family-owned, franchise Coca-Cola bottler. Coke Florida’s exclusive territory covers over 18 million consumers across 47 Florida counties, and includes the major metropolitan markets of Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Coke Florida sells, manufactures, and distributes over 600 products of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies. Coke Florida is the third largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler and the sixth largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola products in the United States. Coke Florida was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, please visit www.cocacolaflorida.com.

 

About 100 Black Men of South Florida, Inc.

Founded June 24, 1989, 100 Black Men of South Florida, Inc. (the “100”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is a group of men in business, industry, public affairs, government and the professions who share a common goal of improving the quality of life for African-Americans and other minorities. The founding members of the 100 believe that they needed to take a leadership role toward effecting such improvement by combating the plagues of illiteracy, professional stagnation, and political and economic disenfranchisement which infect our community.  Its founding purpose is reflected in its programming pillars: Mentoring, Education, Health & Wellness, and Economic Empowerment. The 100 has identified these areas as being critical to the future of African Americans.  The 100 was formed to provide its members with a vehicle through which the requisite action could be taken to improve conditions within our community.