January 27, 2016
PLANO, Texas, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Black History Month, the Ruffles brand is challenging fans to "Choose Your Star Lineup" to celebrate the game changers in their everyday lives. Beginning Monday, January 25, 2016, Ruffles invites fans to log on to CelebrateBlackHistory.com to build their own team of five people who are the MVPs in their lives.
Each lineup submission will generate a $1 donation to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) up to a maximum of $25,000. TMCF is the only national organization advocating for the 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping students acquire a high-quality college education at an affordable cost1.
"Frito-Lay has a longstanding tradition of celebrating Black History Month by creating consumer marketing programs that help provide African American students with the opportunity to receive an excellent education," said Haston Lewis, Senior Director of Marketing, Frito-Lay. "This year, the Ruffles brand is leveraging its relationship with the NBA to recognize and honor the superstars in everyday life."
TMCF serves as a voice for HBCUs and as a resource for the nearly 300,000 students enrolled in publicly-supported HBCUs. TMCF helps students like Kevin Dixon, who became a first generation college graduate of University of the Virgin Islands/St. Croix.
According to Kevin, "The qualities I attained have allowed me to be selected as a White House HBCU All Star Student and an Emerging Leader with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. My academic preparation, leadership opportunities and co-curricular involvement, have afforded me the opportunity to be versed in a variety of policies and practices that serve as key indicators of a truly well-rounded public servant and skilled professional."
"Ruffles is part of my 'star lineup' for helping TMCF provide young people with the support they need to succeed in college," said Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund. "I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Black History Month than by giving the gift of education to deserving students."
In addition to supporting TMCF, all participating fans who submit their lineup will also be entered into a sweepstakes which will award one lucky winner a trip for two to a 2016 NBA Finals game. The Ruffles brand will also give out daily prizes of $200 NBA Store gift cards so fans can stock up on the latest gear from their favorite NBA teams.
About Ruffles
Ruffles is one of many Frito-Lay brands in North America - the $14 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, http://www.fritolay.com, the Snack Chat blog, http://www.snacks.com and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/fritolay.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2014, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
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About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)
TMCF is named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice. Established in 1987, TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow. For more information on TMCF, visit tmcf.org.
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1 The Ruffles brand has committed to a total donation of up to $25,000, which can alleviate some financial burden of up to three deserving students.
SOURCE Ruffles
