PepsiCo, IBM and Other Companies Give Back To Veterans

By definition, large corporations are primarily focused on the bottom line. But some companies manage to keep their eye on the balance sheet and still give back to veterans.

PepsiCo has a long legacy of military hiring and supporting programs for veterans and their families, among other things offering an employee resource group called VALOR that supports the company’s veterans, military members and their families.  The company also sponsors programs such as the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, which provides children of deceased military an opportunity for a college education, as well as Operation Shower, which hosts baby showers for military moms-to-be. The corporation also plays an active role in events like Fleet Week, the USO’s September 11th annual remembrance and also supports the veteran-honoring organization Carry The Load.

PepsiCo’s latest project, a $750,000 grant to the Warrior-Scholar Project(WSP), will be a three year program supporting the one and two-week college preparatory “boot camps” run by WSP that are designed to help veterans transition out of the military and into academic life.  The PepsiCo grant will also fund the development of a new WSP model with a business-focused curriculum to prepare students with practical and relevant skills. The boot camps will be held at prominent universities across the country, with places like Harvard, MIT, Texas A&M, University of Southern California and more participating in the WSP program.

“We are immensely grateful to all those who have sacrificed to preserve, protect, and defend our country, and we are deeply committed to not only hiring veterans, but also supporting the training they need as they transition from serving our country to pursuing a higher education, and then entering the workplace,” said Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo.

Another company “with a heart” is IBM, which was named the Military Friendly Employer of the Year for 2018 by Victory Media. IBM provides five-day sessions to veterans at no cost, offering hands-on and classroom training with IBM software that prepares participants to take an industry-standard data analyst certification exam. Participants also receive job placement assistance upon completing the training. To date, IBM has trained more than 500 veterans.

IBM also facilitates a Veteran Mentoring program, led by American Corporate Partners. As part of the program, hundreds of IBM employees have participated to help post-9/11 veterans and transitioning military service members with resume review, interview practice, job search and professional networking.

Love those yummy Clif Bars after a workout, skiing, or hiking? Here’s one more reason to love them even more– The Clif Bar Family Foundation supports The Farmer Veteran Coalition that works with veterans in farming and food communities across the country, connecting them through educational programs.

StreetShares, an online lender, runs the StreetShares Foundation which is partnering with JP Morgan to provide a total of $10,000 in three monthly awards to eligible veterans, reserve or active duty members or military spouse small business owners to encourage growth and make a positive impact on their communities

Topical BioMedics Inc., maker of Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream, a product formulated by a decorated Marine Corps veteran and used at VA medical centers and hospitals around the country, is a supporter of Project New Hope, a nonprofit that offers free weekend getaways in peaceful settings to veterans and their families.