Soccer is a global sport, so it only makes sense that Pepsi chose to use its power in an effort to support underserved communities.
Last year the company launched “Team of Champions” with soccer star and “Team Captain”, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez.
This year they announced that 16 new organizations were joining the program and that they’re expanding their reach to other communities and recruit more women athletes to the program.
“Last year, PepsiCo and I worked together to establish the ‘Team of Champions’ program and, together, have brought 9,000 athletes and coaches onto the field,” said Chicharito. “In addition to the physical benefits of playing soccer, bringing this beautiful game into these communities teaches youth about teamwork, problem-solving, and accountability. Participation in sports overall enhances resilience and has been proven to boost self-esteem. I’m excited to continue to deliver on our mission to remove barriers to the game in underserved communities.”
Pepsi has committed $1 million over three years to ensure that the program has the financial resources it needs to succeed.
“The ‘Team of Champions’ is symbolic of PepsiCo’s commitment to drive long-term change and address systemic barriers in these underserved communities,” said Antonio Escalona, SVP & GM, Hispanic Business Unit, PepsiCo Foods North America. “Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and the commitment made by our brands Lay’s, Pepsi and Gatorade through this program has had a measurable impact on Hispanic-owned and Black-owned soccer clubs, programs and businesses in the United States.”
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