Wiri-based snack food manufacturer, Bluebird, with funding from the PepsiCo Foundation, has awarded a grant of $100,000 to South Auckland charity, The Rising Foundation, to help young adults get the most out of their secondary education.
The grant is the PepsiCo Foundation’s first investment into a New Zealand community partner, reflecting Bluebird’s commitment to its Rautaki Māori, a strategy of developing economic resilience in the communities it operates in and serves, and ensuring employees across all ethnic groups have equitable opportunities for development and growth.
The funds will allow The Rising Foundation to imbed a full-time programme coordinator and mentor at Papakura High School on a permanent basis, to provide practical, emotional, and cultural support for up to 70 year 9-13 students across the 2024 academic year.
“We believe that Bluebird has a responsibility to support and strengthen the skills of the young people in our local communities,” says Tanya McFarlane, Senior Human Resources Manager of PepsiCo New Zealand.
“This investment will help to unlock potential and will provide students who come from challenging backgrounds with the motivation, support and confidence they need to stay in school and create a better future for themselves,” says McFarlane.
The Rising Foundation’s Core Programme encourages greater participation in school life by providing a safe space where students can connect, hang out, grow, and learn to be their best selves. The students attend weekly meetings to learn and discuss the term’s theme, such as purpose, honesty, and identity, as well as having access to individual career preparation, support to get a driver’s licence, and immersive camp experiences.
“The adolescent years contain some of the most volatile and decisive moments in our lives,” says General Manager of The Rising Foundation, Alex Tarrant.
“Imagine if all young people could enter adult life with a clear understanding of who they are, how to live, and where they are heading. We have seen firsthand how a sustained programme of support can positively change the life trajectories of young people,” continues Tarrant.
“We are so grateful that Bluebird see’s the value in the work that we do and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.”
As well as the grant, Bluebird is committed to extending the partnership by planning career days for students involved with the programme, offering mentoring opportunities with local Bluebird staff, and having staff volunteers attend The Rising Foundation camps.
“The PepsiCo Foundation is committed to feeding the potential of youth in our communities and we believe that education is the pathway to prosperity,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact for PepsiCo. “We hope this partnership with The Rising Foundation inspires students in New Zealand to stay in school and take steps on the pathway towards a prosperous future.”
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
Louis Hartley
louis.hartley@grcpn.nz
022 167 1648
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 $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, 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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
About 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, it is focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water, and economic opportunity. It strives for tangible impact in the places where it lives and works —collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and its employees, to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.
About The Rising Foundation
The Rising Foundation helps young people fully prepare for a healthy adult life, by giving them the skills to effectively navigate life challenges and get them on the path to their best selves and their best lives. Co-founded by John and Diane Bongard, the programme began in 2009 with a group of 20 young people based in Papakura High School. Today, The Foundation works with five schools in South Auckland, with aspirations to take The Rising nationwide in consultation with schools and communities in areas where there is an identified need.