The Coca‑Cola Foundation supports Australian Red Cross COVID-19 recovery efforts

AUSTRALIA Monday, 1 June 2020 – The Coca‑Cola Foundation today announced a new partnership with Australian Red Cross to support vulnerable members of the community to recover from the social and economic impacts of COVID-19.

The Coca‑Cola Foundation is providing $250,000 to support the Red Cross COVID-19 Care Collective which will provide immediate and long-term emotional care and support for Australians who have been hit hardest by the crisis.

“Keeping our social health and wellbeing strong while we live with COVID-19 is so important.  When COVID-19 has passed, let’s be in a position where we can look back and celebrate Australia doing its best to build new and creative social resilience at all scales, where we fostered positive behaviours and confidence across the community. Partnerships like these are supporting us to do that,” said Judy Slayter, CEO, Australian Red Cross.

The programs will support those most at risk of the impacts of COVID-19 including socially isolated older Australians, people experiencing homelessness, migrants and refugees.

The Red Cross COVID-19 Care Collective has been formed across business and philanthropic partners to support recovery initiatives including:

• Emergency relief efforts and the delivery of essential services to vulnerable people and communities across Australia;
• Telephone outreach services to offer wellbeing checks on socially isolated and at-risk people (the service is currently supporting 20,000 Australians impacted by the virus);
• Psychological First Aid training for staff, volunteers and corporate partners. This program offers immediate help to people navigating the stress of life after a crisis.

Globally, The Coca‑Cola Company, The Coca‑Cola Foundation, and local bottlers have pledged over $100 million to support local communities with COVID 19 recovery efforts. This includes over $14 million in donations from The Coca‑Cola Foundation to Red Cross projects around the world.

“We are deeply concerned about the growing impact of the novel coronavirus, especially in the most vulnerable parts of our communities,” said Helen Smith Price, president, The Coca‑Cola Foundation.

“We support the Red Cross COVID-19 Care Collective and its ongoing assistance for Australians hit hardest by this pandemic.”

In addition to the Foundation’s financial support, the company continues to support local communities, employees, and customers in Australia and New Zealand in a variety of ways. This year, Coca‑Cola in Australia, together with The Coca‑Cola Foundation and the local Coca‑Cola Australia Foundation, will deliver support of over $2.5 million to Aussies in need.

“As we emerge from this crisis together, it is vital that the people who are doing it tough receive both immediate assistance and long-term support,” said Vamsi Mohan Thati, President, Coca‑Cola South Pacific.

“Beyond this financial contribution from the Coca‑Cola Foundation, we look forward to sharing our resources, networks and people to offer additional support where and when it is needed most,” he said.
 

-ENDS-

Coca‑Cola South Pacific:

Adam Bell
Adam.bell@coca-cola.com

Australian Red Cross:

Angela Lemme
alemme@redcross.org.au

About The Coca‑Cola Foundation: The Coca‑Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca‑Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants to support sustainable community initiatives around the world. For more information about The Coca‑Cola Foundation, please visit www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/the-coca-cola-foundation.

About The Australian Red Cross:

Australian Red Cross is the nation’s leading humanitarian organisation and a national emergency responder. It supports and empowers people and communities in times of vulnerability to reduce suffering, by mobilising a network of volunteers. For more information about Australian Red Cross, please visit https://www.redcross.org.au/.

About Coca‑Cola South Pacific (Coca‑Cola Australia):  The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. Our portfolio in Australia includes Coca‑Cola, Coca‑Cola No Sugar, Fanta, Sprite, Powerade and others. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. Together with our bottling partner we have made a commitment to reduce sugar across our portfolio by 10% by 2020, as well an industry-wide pledge to reduce sugar across the industry by 20% by 2025. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, The Coca‑Cola Company employs more than 700,000 people, bringing economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Coca‑Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Ltd is the authorised distributor of The Coca‑Cola Company’s beverage brands in Australia. Coca‑Cola South Pacific Pty Ltd is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca‑Cola Company and provides marketing, technical and quality services to The Coca‑Cola Company in Australia. Learn more at /content/onexp/au/en/au/homepage and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Adam Bell
Adam.bell@coca-cola.com

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