The Coca-Cola system and The Coca-Cola Foundation are pledging more than US$100 million/£81 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts around the world, channelling funds to organisations that are best positioned to mobilise quickly and provide aid to healthcare workers and vulnerable communities.
As the world’s largest humanitarian network, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are working on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in nearly 200 countries. That’s why The Coca-Cola Foundation – the charitable giving arm of The Coca-Cola Company – has awarded nearly US$14 million/£11.3 million in grants, to date, to national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in more than 90 countries, from Albania to Zimbabwe.
Foundation funding is awarded at the country and regional level. Grants to Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are helping to provide hospitals with critical medical equipment and supplies, including ventilators, beds, tents and personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and face masks; to support community relief programmes targeting the elderly, chronically ill, disabled and homeless; and to fund public education and awareness campaigns. Combined, these efforts are impacting an estimated 7.5 million people.
“We are focusing our giving during the coronavirus outbreak on organisations with the on-the-ground resources and expertise to help slow the spread and protect both front-line healthcare providers and impacted communities,” said Helen Smith Price, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation. “We are proud to support the great work of our longstanding partners at the Red Cross and Red Crescent during such a critical time.”
Coca-Cola business units and bottlers also are using high-profile marketing assets like billboards and social media channels to promote health and safety messages from the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
The company and foundation continue to assess opportunities for grants, donations and other support around the world as the crisis evolves. Needs are being evaluated locally as markets make their way through the outbreak, recovery and back-to-normal phases of the pandemic.
“The American Red Cross is grateful for partners like Coca-Cola for stepping up during this difficult and uncertain time,” said Koby Langley, SVP, International Services, American Red Cross. “Coca-Cola’s contribution supports the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network’s efforts to slow the spread of this disease and alleviate the suffering that the pandemic is causing. We are deeply grateful for their generous support during this challenging time.”
Since 1917, Coca-Cola and the Red Cross have teamed up to support communities in need through blood drives, disaster relief and more. The Coca-Cola Company and The Coca-Cola Foundation – along with a network of local bottling partners across the world – support the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement through financial contributions, beverage donations, employee volunteerism, and by sharing marketing assets, expertise and more.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have been supporting people in need for more than 150 years. Composed of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies—of which the American Red Cross is one—teams are delivering lifesaving aid and public health messaging to help families stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
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