New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Pepsi Stronger Together and Grammy-nominated recording artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Fat Joe are teaming up, in partnership with Gamesa Cookies, one of Mexico's most beloved consumer food brands and largest manufacturer of cookies, to create a bigger stage for aspiring musicians and artists - by launching their first national scholarship search. The program, part of PepsiCo's series of grassroots initiatives tailored to local communities, aims to support underserved youth nationwide by inviting students to apply to receive one of four $25,000 scholarships towards an education in music and arts.
"Across some of the largest cities in the country,
Black and Hispanic students under index on access to creative arts education, despite the benefits and opportunities it provides. Addressing the needs of underserved communities is why Pepsi Stronger Together was created and given our brand's rich history and footprint in music and entertainment, this program was a natural fit. We are honored to have the help of leading artists like
Fat Joe and
Angie Martinez - people that have broken barriers to get to where they are today - as we collectively look to open more doors for multicultural youth who want to pursue an arts education," said Derek Lewis, PepsiCo's Multicultural Business and Equity Development President.
The program kicks off in New York City on June 12 where
Fat Joe will serve as Padrino (Godfather) of the Puerto Rican Day
Parade on the Pepsi Stronger Together and Gamesa float. He will be joined by NYC radio personality Angie Martinez, former Bronx borough president
Ruben Diaz Jr., and singer Tony Sunshine.
"I'm honored to work with Pepsi Stronger Together to create opportunities for the next generation of multicultural leaders and give them the resources to pursue their dreams in music and arts,"
Fat Joe said. "As an entertainer with a public platform, I take my responsibility to blaze a trail for the future very seriously. It's important that we empower our youth - especially from underserved communities - so they have the confidence and foundation to reach their full potential."
Following the NYC kick-off, Pepsi Stronger Together and Gamesa will take the tour national with stops in Los Angeles, supported by internationally celebrated photographer and film maker Estevan Oriol, and Houston, with help from
Texas rapper and scene icon Bun B, before culminating in Miami. The four scholarship winners will be announced in October at iHeartRadio's Fiesta Latina concert in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
High school seniors nationwide can apply online at PepsiStrongerTogether.com until
September 20, 2022. Each of the four cities will also feature a designated site where students can apply in person with the help of on-site staff, starting with Fat Joe's UP NYC store in the Bronx.
As an extension of PepsiCo's Racial Equality
Journey efforts, this national scholarship program focused on music and arts adds to PepsiCo's community investment, which together with the PepsiCo Foundation, includes a commitment to provide more than 4,000 community college scholarships to support
Black and Hispanic students pursuing 2-year and 4-year degrees. To date, the Uplift scholarship program is now available in 20 U.S. cities, and the Foundation has disbursed funding for nearly 1,800 scholarships. It has also provided nearly 300 community impact grants and created pathways to high-quality careers through the Pathways to Readiness and Empowerment Program.
About Pepsi Stronger Together
Pepsi Stronger Together is a national initiative to empower and engage communities around the country by providing tailored programming and resources that bring people together. It was conceived with the idea that now, more than ever, we must foster a sense of connection and belonging, starting by investing locally. Launched in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic - engaging its network of partners in the South to shine a spotlight on essential front-line workers in a variety of industries - Pepsi Stronger Together was expanded in October of 2020 by partnering with NBA teams and charitable organizations to foster, among other things, community and police relations.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). Under this vision, Pepsi Stronger Together is continually evolving the program to respond to the cultural moment and meet the needs of communities across the United States. Stay up to date at pepsistrongertogether.com, where visitors can engage in conversation and learn about the latest community initiatives and how to give back. Follow the conversation on social media at @pepsistrongertogether.
