PLANO, Texas, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) has been named to the Civic 50 for a fourth consecutive year, once again joining a group of companies recognized as the most community-minded in the nation. An initiative of Points of Light, the Civic 50 sets the standard for corporate civic engagement and creates a roadmap for companies seeking to best use their time, talent and resources to improve the quality of life where they do business.
DPS was recognized for its work to foster physically active, engaged and sustainable communities. Under its philanthropy program, ACTION Nation, DPS has contributed more than 106,000 volunteer hours and nearly $40 million to causes that support strong communities, primarily focused on three target areas: fit and active lifestyles, environmental initiatives and hometown giving.
"We are a business that's deeply embedded in our communities, where our more than 16,000 U.S. employees work day in and day out to build lasting relationships with our customers and neighbors," said Vicki Draughn, vice president of corporate affairs for DPS. "Being recognized for the fourth year in a row by the Civic 50 is a testament to our belief in working together for the common good."
Highlights from DPS's philanthropic initiatives and partnerships include:
- Fit & Active Lifestyles: Let's Play, a community partnership led by DPS to get kids and families active nationwide. By 2017, DPS will have invested $28 million to build or improve playgrounds and donate sports equipment to youth-serving organizations nationwide, impacting nearly 10 million children across the U.S. as well as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
- Environmental Initiatives: Since 2013, the Dr Pepper Snapple/Keep America Beautiful Park Recycling Bin Grant Partnership has contributed 2,500 recycling bins to public parks across the U.S. The company recently extended the relationship with a three-year, $1 million commitment that will add 4,000 new bins. DPS also joined the Closed Loop Fund, contributing $5 million over the next 10 years to help improve the infrastructure for post-consumer recycling. And since 2012, the company has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to protect and restore several watersheds serving Texas' three-largest metropolitan areas.
- Hometown Giving: The company has raised more than $13.8 million for United Way agencies since 2008 through a combination of employee giving and corporate matched funds to strengthen communities where the company operates. DPS expanded this philanthropic plank recently with a three-year, $1 million commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support the Alumni & Friends Club's efforts to engage graduating teens.
"Since 2012, we have seen a notable shift in the results from the survey in a direction that speaks to the commitment of American companies to connect values of community service and civic engagement to the culture and operating practices of their business," said Jennifer Lawson, executive director of the Corporate Institute at Points of Light.
This year's Civic 50 applicants were evaluated and accrued points based on several criteria, including the quantity and impact of financial and human resources applied to civic improvement, whether internal and external resources are activated to maximize community impact, how a company's community engagement activities support its business interests, how broadly community engagement is supported and institutionalized within a company's policies, systems and incentives, and how a company measures the social and business value of its community engagement programs.
The Civic 50 survey was developed in partnership with a high-profile working group of researchers and industry thought leaders. Dozens of corporate advisors provided strategic guidance on the program's objectives, including defining indicators, developing methodology, and identifying partners and participants. As a result of this collaborative process, the initiative reflects leading insight and thinking about how corporations can and should connect with communities in a twenty-first century economy.
The survey was administered by True Impact, a company specializing in helping organizations maximize and measure their social and business value. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform the Civic 50 scoring process. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate involvement in communities. To learn more about the Civic 50, to see a full list of the winners and to access the full report, The 2016 Civic 50: Turning Good Intentions into Sound Business Practices, which presents the highlights, trends, benchmarking data and best practices from the 2016 Civic 50, please visit www.Civic50.org.
About Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have six of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose's, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit www.DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at www.Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or www.Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple.
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