Earth Protect Blog

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fifty-two community organizations in 21 countries around the world were awarded a total of $8.6 million in grants from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, during the third quarter of 2012.

The grants, which fund initiatives benefiting nearly 19 million people worldwide, empower community organizations to promote fitness, advance good nutrition, conserve water, increase recycling, protect nature, educate students and support schools. The grants direct resources toward the Foundation's global priority areas, including:

• $2.6 million for water stewardship;
• $625,000 for community recycling;
• $2.1 million for active, healthy living;
• $2.5 for education; and
• $755,000 for other local priorities, such as youth development, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, economic development, community improvement and environmental responsibility.

"Our grants invest in the ingenuity of grassroots partners who contribute to the well-being of communities around the world," said Ingrid Saunders Jones, Chairperson of The Coca-Cola Foundation. "With our support, these partners work to improve the quality of life for their families, their neighbors, their cities and their countries."

The Foundation's sustainable community grants will benefit:

• 15.1 million people who will gain access to clean water, sanitation and improved water systems, conserving more than 238 billion liters of water;
• 2.1 million students and 1,391 colleges, universities and schools, with scholarships and program support;
• 621,000 youth and adults who will participate in fitness or nutrition programs; and
• 902,000 people who engage in community recycling and education programs, collecting 450,000 pounds of debris.

Organizations awarded grant funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation during the third quarter of 2012 include:

WATER STEWARDSHIP

• Blackfoot Challenge, Inc., Blackfoot Watershed Community-Based Conservation Program,benefiting one million people through improved drought response and irrigation efficiency in western Montana, conserving 122 million liters of water, United States, $58,000.
• Cahaba River Society, Children Linking with the Environment Across the Nation (CLEAN), providing 3,000 local students with environmental education experiences on the Cahaba River in Alabama, United States, $25,000.
• Daphne CR Institute for Applied Ecology, Water For Life, to support a water conservation competition for students, involving 900 people in water education and conserving more than 1.5 million liters of water, Czech Republic, $25,000.
• Instituto Coca-Cola Brazil - Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica, Brazil Rainforest Water Program, to conserve and reforest 3,000 hectares of Atlantic rainforest, benefiting 125,000 people and conserving 560,000 liters of water, Brazil, $100,000.
• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Integrated Water Resource Development for Enhancing Water Availability & Quality in Kolar District Through Watershed Interventions, benefiting more than 5,500 residents in eight villages with access to clean water or sanitation, India, $451,575.
• Kazakh Society of Nature Protection, University Outreach Initiative, benefiting 240,000 university students who participate in a water conservation awareness project and other environmental programs, Kazakhstan, $100,000.
• The Nature Conservancy, Nature Conservancy North America Water Replenishment Partnership - 2012, benefiting conservation projects in Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan and Texas, estimated to conserve 3.5 billion liters of water, United States, $200,000.
• TreeUtah, Ecological Restoration Program: Jordan River Watershed, for restoration projects along the Jordan River engaging 1,200 volunteers and benefiting 100,000 local residents, United States, $25,000.
• United Nations Development Programme, China, Supplementary to Integrated Water Replenish Initiative in China, for a feasibility study to improve water quality and accessibility for 30 million people living in the Dongjiang River Basin, China, $800,000.
• WWF Spain (Adena), Replenishing Upper Guadiana Aquifers, benefiting 500 farmers through improved farm management and irrigation practices, estimated to conserve 920 million liters of water, Spain, $500,000.
• Yayasan Lingkungan Hidup Seloliman, Lumbung Air Pacet, for construction of rainwater harvesting wells to restore the Mojokerto district aquifer, projected to replenish 894 million liters of water, Indonesia, $274,435.

COMMUNITY RECYCLING

• Instituto Coca-Cola Brazil - Doe Seu Lixo, ICCB-Recycling Cooperative Management Capability Program, to help reduce solid waste through recycling and provide economic empowerment support to communities in Brazil, Brazil, $300,000.
• Keep America Beautiful, Inc., Coca-Cola Public Space Recycling Bin Grant Project, providing more than 8,000 recycling bins to over 100 local organizations, and collecting more than 450,000 pounds of debris, United States, $300,000.
• Zoological Society of San Diego, Cans for Critters, involving 2,000 children in recycling efforts for the benefit of the Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research, the world's largest zoo-based research team, United States, $25,000.

ACTIVE HEALTHY LIVING

• Asociación Benéfica Prisma, Teaching and Encouraging with Health (Educanimando Con Salud), benefiting 13,000 school children with curriculum-based nutrition education and physical activity programs, Peru, $75,000.
• Association of C5 Youth Programs, Active, Healthy Living and Learning for C5 Youth, providing equipment and curriculum development to benefit 1,200 young people through summer programs that encourage physical activity, United States, $50,000.
• Camp Korey, Outdoor Education Program for Children with Serious Illnesses, providing outdoor educational programs to 2,500 children with critical medical conditions at Camp Korey in Carnation, Wash., United States, $50,000.
• The Center for Closing the Health Gap of Greater Cincinnati, Mt. Auburn Program, to expand the "Do Right! Family Obesity Campaign," serving 350 children and adults, United States, $50,000.
• Center for Puppetry Arts, Inc., Distance Learning Center: "Movin' and Groovin' with Little Noodle," for a performance series that encourages 5,000 Atlanta-area children to make healthy food choices and to lead an active life, United States, $50,000.
• Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully, Inc., C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Fitness Challenge, to expand the Fitness Challenge series program to five elementary schools in the Atlanta Public School System, benefiting 1,500 children and 250 adults, United States, $25,000.
• Centre for Nutritional Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Healthy Active Lifestyles, to provide a toolkit on energy balance, healthy nutrition and exercise to secondary school teachers, benefiting more than 25,000 children and adults, Hong Kong, $160,000.
• Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BEFRI - Berlin Risk Evaluation in Women (Berliner Frauen Risikoevaluation), an active healthy living studybenefiting more than 1,000 women participating in a study of cardiovascular disease and risk factors, Germany, $132,000.

• Fundación Junior Achievement Ecuador, "Apuntate A Jugar" - (Sign Up To Play), benefiting 12,500 students by providing physical education equipment kits to 25 public schools in Quito, Ecuador, $20,000.
• Komitet Za Medjunarodnu Saradnju Studenata Medicine-Srbija (International Forum of Medical Student Association), Find the Right Measure, to fund a national anti-obesity campaign for Serbian communities, Serbia, $113,000.
• Latvian Physicians Association, National Active Lifestyle Campaign "Active Lifestyle Five Times A Week," for a national public awareness campaign to promote healthy eating and physical activity, reaching 460,000 children and adults, Latvia, $65,000.
• Magyar Dietetikusok Orszagos Szovetsege (Hungary Dietetic Association), Dietitian Support Program for HungarianUniversity Students, benefiting 4,500 students at the three largest universities in Hungary with nutritional counseling and education, Hungary, $335,000.
• Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Inc., MJCCA Health and Wellness Programming for People of All Abilities, to support a range of programs that promote active, healthy lifestyles among 15,000 children and adults in the Atlanta area, including fitness opportunities for people with developmental disabilities, United States, $50,000.
• Mo.D.A.V.I. Onlus, At School Inshape/Informed, to continue a nutrition education program benefiting 15,000 students in 40 high schools throughout Italy, providing training and toolkits for teachers, Italy, $500,000.
• Moving In The Spirit, Stepping Stones, to cultivate physical fitness, dance ability and confidence among a vulnerable population of Atlanta-area children and teenagers, reaching nearly 200 young people every week, United States, $15,000.
• Street Soccer USA, Inc., SSUSA Greater NY Metro Program Expansion, to fund the expansion of Street Soccer into the greater New York area, benefiting 500 participants, United States, $45,000.
• Third Street Community Center, Leading Strong & Healthy Lives, benefiting 45 elementary school children in San Jose, Calif. through an enhanced After-School Academic Program by adding a physical activity and nutrition curriculum, United States, $25,000.
• U.S. Soccer Federation Foundation, Soccer for Success, to benefit 5,800 youth and more than 400 coaches through funding for an after-school, sports-based program in underserved neighborhoods in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Seattle, United States, $350,000.

EDUCATION

• The Children's Museum of Atlanta, Just Imagine!,supporting the capital campaign with program support for two educational exhibits, "Gateway to the World," and "Step Up to Science," teaching core competencies in literacy, math and science that will benefit 1.4 million students, 7,500 teachers, and 1,250 schools, United States, $300,000.

• Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Museum Access Scholarship Program for At-Risk Youth, impacting 15,000 students and 120 schools by underwriting more than 5,700 free admissions for youth from Title I schools, United States, $40,000.
• Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets, Green School Education Project, for an environmental awareness project that benefits 1,000 students and 100 teachers in six schools, Armenia, $50,000.
• Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., Sam Nunn School of International Affairs Program Support, to support three programs: Coca-Cola First Generation College, with funds for undergraduate and graduate scholarships; Natural Resource Governance for Sustainability, with funds for two professorships for research; and Study Abroad Programs, with funds for programs in Latin America, Asia and Europe; benefiting 460 college students and professors, United States, $1,130,000.
• National Academy Foundation, Strengthening NAF Academy Work-Based Learning Opportunities, Year 2, benefiting 200 high school students and their teachers in a work-based learning program in underserved communities in Atlanta and Miami, United States, $50,000.
• The Ohio State University Foundation, Critical Difference for Women, providing re-entry scholarships and support services for 140 academically deserving, non-traditional female students with a demonstrated financial need, United States, $500,000.
• Pace Academy, Pace Academy Upper School and Library Accessibility Plan, to provide handicap access for disabled students throughout the main core campus in Atlanta, United States, $250,000.
• The Sheltering Arms, Teach Today, Reach Tomorrow Campaign, benefiting 6,500 students from working families with needs-based tuition scholarship support, United States, $100,000.
• Teach for America, Inc., Accelerating the Movement to Close the Education Achievement Gap, to support the recruitment, training and development of 5,800 new teachers, benefiting 750,000 students, United States, $50,000.
• The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, International Leaders Awards - Environmental Internships, benefiting seven college students from Latin America and Asia with internships and work placements in organizations committed to water stewardship, sustainable packaging and environmental advocacy, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela, $50,000.

LOCAL PRIORITIES

Ten organizations received a total of $755,000 in grants to support youth development, community improvement, economic development and environmental responsibility, and to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS:

• Chinese Foundation for Prevention of STD & AIDS, Caring Projects of AIDS-Impacted Children and Women Program, to provide educational, psychological and general support to assist 485 women and children affected by AIDS in the Yunnan Province, China, $200,000.
• Genesis Shelter, Inc., Genesis Shelter Strategic Restructuring Project, to support continuation of comprehensive services for homeless families during the organization's merger with Families First in Atlanta, United States, $25,000.
• Social Dynamics Public Fund, Business Schools for Unemployed Women of Kazakhstan, benefiting 1,500 unemployed women who participate in training sessions to teach them how to operate their own catering businesses, Kazakhstan, $100,000.
• Chattahoochee Nature Center, Chattahoochee Nature Center Cultural Experience Program, benefiting 4,200 third-grade students enrolled in Title l schools across the metropolitan Atlanta area with scholarship support for an outdoor field-study experience, United States, $25,000.
• Desem Del Uruguay, Learning Environmental Entrepreneurship (Aema: Aprender A Emprender En El Medio Ambiente), to support an environmental awareness program for 1,500 students in metropolitan Montevideo, Uruguay, $30,000.
• Fundacion Emprender, Learning Environmental Entrepreneurship (Aema: Aprender A Emprender En El Medio Ambiente), benefiting 5,000 students through environmental awareness classes, Bolivia, $40,000.
• Fundacion Paraguaya De Cooperacion Y Desarrollo, Learning Environmental Entrepreneurship (Aema: Aprender A Emprender En El Medio Ambiente), benefiting 1,500 youth enrolled in the public schools of Caacupe, Cordillera as participants in environmental awareness classes and projects, Paraguay, $40,000.
• Pontificia Universidad Catolica Del Peru, Coca-Cola Eco-Efficiency Award 2012 (Premio Coca-Cola A La Ecoeficiencia 2012), engaging 12,000 professionals, university students, scientists and government representatives in the development of proposals to support the efficient use of water and other natural resources, Peru, $70,000.
• Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, Youth Environmental Education Programs, benefiting 10,000 young people from more than 100 youth and community organizations with funds for Save the Harbor's free youth environmental education programs in Boston Harbor, United States, $25,000.
• Vsemirnyi Fond Prirody, Community-Based Polar Bear Conservation in Russian Arctic, to involve residents of coastal settlements in the monitoring and protection of some 7,000 polar bears (almost one-third of the global population) in the Russian Arctic, Russian Federation, $200,000.

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

Since its inception in 1992, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $500 million to support global sustainable community initiatives, including water stewardship, community recycling, active healthy living, and education. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please go to www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_coke.html

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYS: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journeyat www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com.