The Pepsi Bottling Group Celebrates ''Bring Your Child to Work Day'' at Somers Headquarters.

SOMERS, N.Y. -- Community Outreach Activities to Benefit Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc.

Bubble gum soda? Maybe a black cherry and apple combination? These could be some of the new flavored sodas created today by the more than 250 children who will descend upon The Pepsi Bottling Group's (PBG) headquarters in Somers today. The children will participate in a full day of activities to celebrate "Bring Your Child to Work Day."

The children, who come from communities throughout Westchester and Fairfield Counties, will participate in a variety of hands-on activities focused on PBG's operations. From making their own custom-flavored soda to previewing the new Star Wars-themed marketing campaign to learning how technology is used by the PBG sales force, the children will be given an insider's view of the complex business of making, selling and delivering a broad portfolio of beverages.

The group will also learn about PBG's outreach to local communities. The children will be decorating art smocks and creating alphabet books that will be donated to Headstart programs in Westchester County. Those donations will be accompanied by a $5,000 contribution from the PBG Foundation to the Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. (CCCW). New York State Assemblyman Adam Bradley, CCCW Executive Director Kathy Halas and CCCW Associate Executive Director Sandy Kewley will be on hand to accept the donations. The presentation will be made during an ice cream social celebration at the end of the day.

"Providing support for the local communities where we live and work is a fundamental part of the PBG experience and we want to share that experience with our children," said John Rossettie, PBG's Vice President of Headquarters Human Resources. "We have planned an action-packed day that will provide a better understanding of the wide range of jobs and opportunities that exist at PBG. And most importantly, we want to children to have great time while they're here."

The Child Care Council of Westchester is a private, nonprofit resource and referral organization dedicated to optimizing the quality of life for children and working families within Westchester County.

Throughout the day, groups of children will rotate through several activities and presentations, including:

--Make Your Own Soda - Children will learn how flavors are combined and will create, name and label their own unique sodas.

--Wellness Center Event - Children will visit PBG's on-site wellness center to learn about the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle.

--Marketing/Advertising - Previews of new Pepsi television ads will be shown in a presentation by PBG's marketing team.

--Community Service - Children will decorate art smocks and create new alphabet books for donation to local Headstart programs.

--Information Technology - PBG's IT department will give children a hands-on lesson about computers and their importance to PBG's operations.

"Take our Daughters to Work Day" was introduced in 1993 by the Ms. Foundation for Women and was changed in 2003 to "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day." In 1999, The Pepsi Bottling Group expanded its version of this nationally celebrated day to include sons as well as daughters and has continued the practice each year.

The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (www.pbg.com) is the world's largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages with operations in the U.S., Canada, Greece, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Turkey.