PepsiCo has partnered with ‘Draw a Smile’, a social support volunteering organisation, to ease the heat for communities hard at work in UAE’s soaring temperatures.
As part of the initiative, PepsiCo will contribute 30,000 Aquafina bottles and 5,000 cans of soft drinks to laborers and security personnel working tirelessly in the heat.
“The partnership with ‘Draw a Smile’ truly reflects our commitment to ‘winning with purpose’. We believe that growth and prosperity are incomplete, unless we pass on their benefits to those who have helped us build and progress over the years. 2020 has been a challenging year for us all — some more than others, and now more than ever, we need more than just lip service. We need to use our power and influence to give back to the community, and inspire hope & positivity,” says Aamer Sheikh, President and General Manager at PepsiCo Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan.
Since 2018, via the ‘Cool Their Summer’ campaign, ‘Draw a Smile’ has donated over 25,000 bottles of water and juices to laborers and workers with the support of various individuals and companies.
Bicycles with coolers will make stops at various construction sites in Dubai, handing over cold water, soft drinks, and caps to help workers battle the searing heat. PepsiCo will also provide t-shirts and organise transportation for volunteers on ground.
So far, PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation, along with its local bottling network and partners, have contributed a total of $5 million to provide relief to COVID-19 hotspots across the MENA region.
