PepsiCo, Inc., The PepsiCo Foundation Launch $7 Million Initiative to Help Communities of Color Amid COVID-19

Black and Latinx communities have been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. With record-breaking reports of job loss and health disparities being reported nationally, the preexisting conditions many people faced prior to the pandemic have been brought to the attention to millions.

In response, PepsiCo, Inc. and The PepsiCo Foundation have pledged $7 million to help communities of color devastated by the crisis, partnering with the National Urban League and UnidosUS to help fund their relief efforts. PepsiCo, Inc and the foundation have donated $1 million to each organization to help them provide technology for remote education and work, feed families and seniors, and increase medical care and testing. A portion of the funds will also be used for relief efforts after the pandemic.

In addition to the $2 million being donated to the National Urban League and UnidosUS, PepsiCo will distribute $5 million among local nonprofit organizations that serve black and brown communities and provide social services, housing, job preparedness programs, and health services. $100,000 will also be allocated to the Farmworkers Pandemic Relief Fund.

PepsiCo Gives Back

“COVID-19 has once again put a spotlight on the deep-rooted health and economic disparities that have long faced communities of color,” Steven Williams, CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America, said in a statement. “In response to this, we’re helping to provide immediate relief and support long-term recovery for Black and Latino communities. But just as these inequities existed well before coronavirus, we will continue to do our part and be a partner to these communities in the months and years ahead.

“In efforts to have a lasting impact, PepsiCo has identified metropolitan areas in the nation where their company has strong ties to and black and brown people have been disproportionately impacted. Those areas include Baltimore, the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami-Dade, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York City, St. Louis and Washington D.C.”

“Across the nation, the burden of COVID-19 is being disproportionately shouldered by Black and Latino communities that are facing higher rates of hospitalization, death and economic hardships,” said Kirk Tanner, CEO, PepsiCo Beverages North America. “That’s why PepsiCo, our brands and our people have mobilized to offer our support. And we know a crisis of this scale requires a collective effort. We’re calling on our partners and network to support the communities of color that we are proud to serve and where our teams live and work.”

Pouring into the Community 

As a continued partner of the National Urban League and UnidosUS, PepsiCo has donated millions of dollars to support their initiatives over the years.

“Our long-valued partnership with PepsiCo has grown even more vital during this time of unprecedented need,” said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. “PepsiCo’s commitment to empowering communities of color allows the Urban League Movement to continue paving a path forward, and to expand and intensify our service as America’s economic first responders.”

Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS added, “At a time when Latinos and other communities of color are being so hard hit, we need immediate action for emergency resources from all sectors. This commitment from PepsiCo will directly support the UnidosUS Esperanza/Hope Fund benefitting our network of affiliated community-based organizations who are on the frontlines helping combat the health and economic impact of COVID-19 on the Latino community, from creating food delivery programs to offering mental health services via telemedicine portals.”

Since the pandemic, PepsiCo has donated over $50 million to communities globally to fight hunger, provide front line workers with PPE materials, and other relief efforts.