The Donation to HBCUs and Their Students
at the 2023 Pepsi® National Battle of The Bands in
Houston, Texas, Comes Ahead of the
Larger PepsiCo HBCU Tour Amplifying and Engaging the Next
Generation of Diverse Leaders
PURCHASE, N.Y., Aug. 24,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo is proudly making its
return to the 2023 Pepsi National Battle of the Bands to celebrate,
elevate, and engage students and the nation's top Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) marching bands, recognizing
how deeply rooted these institutions are in HBCU culture and their
fundamental role in shaping the HBCU experience.
In celebration of the musical excellence and unapologetic joy
that HBCU marching bands represent, Doritos® SOLID BLACK
will be announcing a $160,000
donation as part of its wider commitment to supporting HBCUs. A
portion of the funds will be going to support students individually
as Doritos SOLID BLACK continues to spotlight Black Changemakers
who are creating meaningful impact. From section leaders to dance
captains, students are nominated by their respective band directors
for their leadership qualities and contribution to their teams and
the honorary changemakers will be announced and recognized on the
field during the 2023 Pepsi National Battle of the Bands show in
Houston, Texas.
"As a fellow HBCU alum and previous Doritos SOLID BLACK
Changemaker, I'm thrilled to welcome these new honorary
changemakers. The hustle, drive, and leadership that shape a
changemaker can start at any age, and I hope each of these students
feels inspired and encouraged to continue to be their best, boldest
self," said celebrated Houston-staple, community activist and 2022
SOLID BLACK alum, DJ Mr. Rogers. The producer and DJ will join
students at the 50-yard-line to highlight their achievements and
give them a moment in the spotlight.
To inspire students ahead of the main event, the Doritos SOLID
BLACK Changemaker Lounge will be on-site, highlighting the 2023
Changemakers and supporting the next generation of leaders through
recruitment and mentoring opportunities.
"The Pepsi National Battle of the Bands is a hallmark of HBCU
culture, one that celebrates the signature energy and unique
footprint that highlight the HBCU experience. This year, our goal
is to reward band leaders that go above and beyond for their teams,
communities, and peers but also reinforce that it's never too early
or too late to become a changemaker and make an impact," said
Kent Montgomery, SVP of Industry
Relations and Multicultural Development, PepsiCo North America.
"The National Battle of the Bands has always been a vibrant
platform that showcases the immense talent, determination, and
creativity of our nation's HBCU musicians. Through the
generous donation from Doritos SOLID BLACK and the inspiring
commitment from PepsiCo, we are taking a bold step forward in
nurturing the next generation of diverse leaders," said
Derek Webber, CEO of Webber
Marketing and Executive Producer of National Battle of the Bands.
"This partnership is a testament to the belief in the extraordinary
potential within our HBCU communities and amplifies the voices of
students marching to the beat and setting the rhythm for change and
innovation. I am incredibly proud and excited for what this means
for our students, our schools, and the bright future of HBCU
culture."
Exclusive Preview of Limited-Edition Merchandise
In addition, Doritos SOLID BLACK will offer HBCU students and
attendees a sneak peek at its exclusive limited-edition merchandise
collection that will drop on Wednesday,
August 30. Designed by Bricks & Woods, an LA-based label
known for creating impact in their own community, the collection
consists of t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, totes, trucker hats and
shorts. Ahead of the drop date, eight kits including the entire
collection will be given to the Doritos SOLID BLACK band
changemakers. The collection will be on display in the Doritos
SOLID BLACK Changemaker Lounge at National Battle of the Bands.
Fans who are interested in purchasing from the collection can
download the NTWRK app or visit their website and enter a drawing
opening on Thursday, August 24 for a
chance to purchase a set. All proceeds will be donated to Rescue a
Generation, a non-profit organization selected by the designer for
its work to transform the most underserved communities by providing
coaching and empowerment to the next generation.
Doritos SOLID BLACK has recognized and amplified more than 25
Black Changemakers in partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation. In
February of this year, Doritos SOLID BLACK and the PepsiCo
Foundation announced the 2023 class of Black Changemakers made of
16 nonprofit leaders who are each receiving a $50,000 grant funded by the PepsiCo
Foundation, specialized training for nonprofit professionals and
one-on-one fundraising coaching as part of the Black Changemakers
program. Earlier this summer, Doritos also introduced a new
commercial dedicated to amplifying and showcasing the impact of the
2023 Black Changemakers and a limited-edition flavor, Doritos Spicy
Pineapple Jalapeno, which was created in partnership with
award-winning Chef Chris Williams
and has specially designed packaging from Mz. Icar to celebrate its
ongoing commitment to celebrate Changemakers.
To learn more about Doritos SOLID BLACK, the 2023 Class of
Changemakers and to stay updated on how to become part of the next
class, fans can visit Doritos.com/SOLIDBLACK and follow @doritos on
social media.
As part of PepsiCo's larger commitment to HBCUs, next month it
will kick-off its multi-stop HBCU Tour to support and connect with
students through on-the-ground activations, recruitment
opportunities, and a community program. Powered by Pepsi Zero Sugar
and Doritos, the tour will show up across SWAC Classics as well as
other HBCU campuses and communities during the football season to
create moments of unapologetic celebration and impact for students
and alumni during the most exciting time of the year.
About Doritos
Doritos believes there's boldness in everyone. We champion those
who are true to themselves, who live life fully engaged and take
bold action by stepping outside of their comfort zone and pushing
the limits. Doritos is one of many Frito-Lay North America brands –
the $23 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc.
(NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Follow
Doritos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. Learn
more about Frito-Lay at the corporate
website, http://www.fritolay.com/, and on
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/fritolay.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion
times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the
world. PepsiCo generated more than $86
billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complimentary
beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's,
Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and
SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of
enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that
generate more than $1 billion each in
estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in
Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo
Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that
puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will
create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries
and inspiring positive change for the planet and people. For more
information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow
on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
@PepsiCo.
About National Battle of the Bands
The National Battle
of the Bands' (NBOTB) mission is to enhance the exposure of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), their
marching bands, and their roles in educating aspiring musicians and
developing future leaders. The musical showcase, hosted in
collaboration between Webber Marketing and the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority,
occurs annually in Houston, TX, at
NRG stadium. Event organizers have generated nearly $1 million in scholarships for the participating
colleges and universities. For more information, visit
www.nationalbattleofthebands.com.
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SOURCE PepsiCo Beverages North America