Coca-Cola donates $2.5 million to National Park Foundation

Source: Food and Drink Digital

Date :6/19/2007 8:43:34 AM

New Coca-Cola North America and National Park Foundation partnership focuses on trail restoration, park stewardship and visitor experience.

Coca-Cola North America recently announced it has joined the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service as a Proud Partner of America’s National Parks through a commitment of $2.5 million over five years. The endowment will support efforts to link outdoor recreation, education, and awareness to the physical and mental wellbeing of Americans.

The National Park Foundation and the National Park Service launched Proud Partners of America’s National Parks in 2000. Through the program, global corporate leaders including American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Unilever and now The Coca-Cola Company, have each committed to multi-year support of the National Park Foundation to help encourage more Americans to experience and support their national parks.

“We are proud to support the national parks because we know that our partnership will go toward encouraging Americans to get more physically active while enjoying the beauty of our national parks,” says Katie Bayne, chief marketing officer, Coca-Cola North America. “Walking is a simple way to get fit. This partnership will help improve the conditions of many of our parks’ nature trails and allow many more Americans to enjoy them.”

The initial commitment will support trail restoration in Yellowstone National Park and a number of cause-related marketing programs through the National Park Foundation. Later this year, Coca-Cola North America also plans to announce details about valuable park project funding in support of the National Park Service’s upcoming 100th anniversary. Support delivered in partnership with the National Park Foundation will assist with trail restoration, creation and enhancement while engaging communities and youth in the stewardship and health benefits of our national parks.

“Private citizens and philanthropy have always played an important role in our National Park System and will continue to be vital in securing its future,” says Vin Cipolla, president and chief executive officer of the National Park Foundation. “We are honored to have Coca-Cola North America join with us to enhance recreational resources across the national park system, enabling experiences that park visitors will value and remember for a lifetime.”

“The National Park Service is dedicated to the conservation, protection, restoration and stewardship of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation, and to working with communities to preserve their special places and to offer local recreational opportunities,” says National Park Service Director, Mary Bomar. “As we prepare to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service in 2016, this timely commitment of partnership from the National Park Foundation and Coca-Cola North America demonstrates the impact partnerships will have on the state of our parks.”