PepsiCo, the Magic Johnson Foundation and Feed the Children Distribute 16,000 Pounds of Food and Essentials to Compton Families

COMPTON, Calif., Dec. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Four hundred Compton families facing economic hardship will receive enough food to supplement meals for a week plus daily essentials, thanks to a partnership between PepsiCo, the Magic Johnson Foundation and Feed the Children. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. at Compton Unified School District Headquarters, 417 W. Alondra Blvd., Compton.

Today's distribution event is part of a larger initiative between PepsiCo and Feed the Children in cities throughout the United States. In Compton, more than 26 percent of families live below the poverty line. As the holiday season fast approaches, this event will allow families to reallocate their limited resources.                                                                                                                                              

The receiving families have been identified and preselected by the Compton Unified School District Headquarters, a local nonprofit organization.

 "We believe no child should go to bed hungry in a land where there is plenty of food," said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children Interim CEO/President and COO. "But the reality is, millions of boys and girls, right here in our own backyard, face this hardship every day. Thanks to our generous partners, PepsiCo and the Magic Johnson Foundation, today we are able to help these families rest a little easier knowing they don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from."

Each qualifying recipient family will be given:

• One 25-pound box of nonperishable food items
• One 15-pound box of personal-care items
• One box of AVON products
• Disney books
• Frito-Lay snacks
• PepsiCo beverages
• Tropicana Juice
• Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
• Quaker Standard Oats

"PepsiCo is grateful for the opportunity to give something back to the Compton community through donating and volunteering our time at this wonderful event," said Phil Schmich, director of distribution sales, PepsiCo Food Service.  "We are passionate about creating an inclusive environment within the communities where we live and work, in an effort to make a positive impact."

"The holidays are always a difficult time for families who are facing financial difficulty. We have been committed to these families for 20 years. We are so thankful that our partnership with PepsiCo and Feed the Children is allowing us to go above and beyond this holiday season with all of the additional wonderful items that will be given to families. We know that this will make a tremendous impact on the lives of 400 families," said Shane Jenkins, vice president of the Magic Johnson Foundation.

About Feed the Children

Established in 1979, Feed the Children exists to end child hunger. It is one of the largest U.S.-based charities and serves those in need in the U.S. and in 10 countries around the world. It provides food, education, essentials and disaster relief. Domestically, it operates 5 distribution centers (located in Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania).

In fiscal year 2015, Feed the Children distributed 107 million pounds of food and essentials valued at $302 million to people in the U.S., and internationally, it sponsored nearly 24,500 children, addressing the root causes of poverty through sponsorship of children, communities and schools. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and is rated by Charity Navigator.

Visit www.feedthechildren.org for more information.

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 $63 billion in net revenue in 2015, 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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SOURCE PepsiCo