The Coca-Cola Foundation Ends the Year with More Than $24.2 Million in Giving to Communities Across North America

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This holiday season, The Coca-Cola Foundation spreads more than $4.8 million worth of cheer – in the form of its fourth-quarter grants – to 29 organizations across the U.S. and Canada.

“We are proud to partner with organizations that work to make a difference in the lives of so many across North America.”

In 2011, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company awarded more than $24.2 million to 115 community organizations in the U.S. and Canada, benefitting active, healthy living; community, arts and culture; diversity and inclusion; education and youth development; and environment programs. In total, the Foundation has given more than $70 million to sustainable community initiatives across the globe this year.

“As 2011 comes to a close, we continue to celebrate organizations in the community that work to build a better future for us all,” said Lori George Billingsley, Vice President, Community Relations, Coca-Cola Refreshments. “We are proud to partner with organizations that work to make a difference in the lives of so many across North America.”

The $4.8 million awarded in the fourth quarter includes more than $2.7 million for community, arts and culture organizations; $867,133 million for active, healthy living initiatives; $590,000 to support diversity and inclusion; $274,000 for education programs; $250,000 for community recycling efforts; and $150,000 for water stewardship projects.

Organizations receiving funding include:

Community, Arts and Culture

Chattanooga History Center, Chattanooga, TN, $250,000

Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center Inc., Atlanta, GA, $500,000

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., $2 million (multi-year grant of $500,000 annually through 2015)

Active, Healthy Living

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, $322,133 (multi-year grant of $107,378 annually through 2013)

Cool Girls Inc., Atlanta, GA, $25,000

Girls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, $25,000

National Park Foundation, Washington, D.C., $250,000

NIA Community Services Network, Brooklyn, NY, $25,000

Northlake Nature Center Inc., Mandeville, LA, $20,000

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Washington, D.C., $150,000

Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, Washington, D.C., $50,000

Diversity and Inclusion

FAN4Kids, Brooklyn, NY, $25,000

Inter Tribal Sports, Temecula, CA, $40,000

Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, Bronx, NY, $25,000

National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Washington, D.C., $150,000

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (National Office), Baltimore, MD, $100,000

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (New York State Conference), New York, NY, $30,000

National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Atlanta, GA, $50,000

Soccer in the Streets, Atlanta, GA, $70,000

Thurgood Marshall College Fund, New York, NY, $100,000

Education

Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, Atlanta, GA, $50,000

Communities In Schools of Atlanta Inc., Atlanta, GA, $25,000

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Arlington, VA, $25,000

North Carolina Museum of History Foundation Inc., Raleigh, NC, $100,000

Reach for Excellence, Atlanta, GA, $24,000

Woodward Academy, Atlanta, GA, $50,000

Community Recycling

Keep America Beautiful, Stamford, CT, $200,000

World Wildlife Fund Canada, Toronto, Ontario, $50,000

Water Stewardship

Friends of the Los Angeles River, Los Angeles, CA, $25,000

World Wildlife Fund Canada, Toronto, Ontario, $125,000

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

The Coca-Cola Foundation awarded more than $70 million to 263 community organizations around the world in 2011 to support 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 (NYSE: 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 1.7 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 employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.