PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation are helping to
close the diversity gap in the STEM workforce gap by increasing
awareness and access for HBCU students through financial support
and resources aimed at supporting food science and elevating
culinary innovation
PURCHASE, N.Y., Aug. 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PepsiCo announced the
launch of "Taste of Tomorrow," an initiative designed to increase
Black representation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
(STEM) careers because despite the rapid growth of STEM jobs, Black
professionals remain underrepresented making up only 9% of the STEM
workforce. To help address this disparity, PepsiCo and the PepsiCo
Foundation are investing $350,000 in
financial support and providing additional resources to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), particularly
for students pursuing careers in food science and technology.
As the employer of choice for STEM careers, this initiative is
part of PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation's efforts to work
towards creating flavorful futures for students at HBCUs through
the advancement of STEM education and culinary innovation.
"HBCUs are a critical pillar of impact, influence, and
opportunity, nurturing the next generation of Black leaders," said
Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice
President, Industry Relations and Multicultural Development at
PepsiCo. "We are eager to continue our long-standing
commitment of supporting diverse talent in our business and provide
students with the resources needed to thrive in their careers and
make a positive impact on the world. With the launch of this
campaign, we're not only helping to create a more diverse and
inclusive workforce for the STEM field, but also drive innovation
and progress in the food industry."
Research shows that lack of access to advanced STEM-related
courses in public high schools serving predominantly Black
students, a decrease in public programming in urban communities and
scarcity in representation of Black high achievers in the field
have led to insufficient growth of Black professionals and recent
graduates in this industry. With HBCUs at the center of culture,
education and long-term career and life advancement, PepsiCo and
the PepsiCo Foundation are proudly providing funding and flavor to
HBCUs and its students through the "Taste of Tomorrow" to combat
this disparity, including:
PepsiCo Foundation is providing $250,000 in scholarships to HBCU students
pursuing STEM degrees across 9 HBCUs for the 2025 school
year. Beginning September 9,
2024, through December 2,
2024, students at Benedict
College, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard
University, Jackson State
University, Morgan State
University, North Carolina Central
University and Prairie View A&M
University can apply at
https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/tasteoftomorrow. Participating
schools and application requirements can also be found at the link
during the live application period.
Additionally, PepsiCo is honoring and supporting Florida A&M University and Prairie View A&M University by providing
$100,000 total for STEM
resources to enhance their programs and foster innovation for
long-term advancement of their programs and bringing an R&D
educational workshop series to their campuses for further
access.
"At the core of what we do at the PepsiCo Foundation is
provide underrepresented communities with resources and access to
economic opportunities that sustain and elevate their lives,"
said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head
of Social Impact for PepsiCo. "As a proud HBCU graduate and
executive in a food and beverage company, my interest in this
program is both personal and professional. By investing in
HBCU students and supporting STEM education, we hope to inspire a
new era of STEM professionals to not only change the future of this
industry but provide long-term impact in their communities."
Bringing the flavor, PepsiCo's brands, Pepsi® Zero Sugar and
Doritos®, will engage students and fans on-campus through
on-the-ground culinary innovations created by in-house chefs and
food-science experts to inspire at-home food innovation. PepsiCo
will also host a wide range of talent on campus and campaign
spokesperson and HBCU alum, 2 Chainz, who is bringing his passion
for supporting HBCU students to this initiative.
"As an HBCU Alum, I'm excited to share my platform and partner
with the PepsiCo's Taste of Tomorrow initiative to support
diversity in STEM and encourage students, all while bringing
awareness to the talented graduates coming from HBCUs entering the
workforce." said 2 Chainz, rapper and entrepreneur.
"Taste of Tomorrow" underscores PepsiCo's commitment to
supporting HBCUs and advancing diverse talent within its pipeline
to recruitment. As part of its efforts to amplify equity within its
business, this initiative is one part of PepsiCo's work in ensuring
marginalized and underserved communities are supported. By
leveraging the power of the PepsiCo platform to foster growth for
HBCUs and their students, the company is working to help address
systemic barriers and create economic opportunities.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by
consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200
countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more
than $91 billion in net revenue in
2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods
portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade,
Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product
portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages,
including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail
sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in
Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo
Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that
puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will
create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries
and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more
information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter),
Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
About the PepsiCo Foundation
The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests
in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a
mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits
and experts around the globe, we're focused on helping communities
obtain access to food security, safe water and economic
opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we
live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and
international organizations, and our employees to affect
large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of
global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.
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