The Pepsi Bottling Group Sends Calling Cards to Troops.

Donation to VFW Made on Behalf of PBG Veterans for Veterans Day

SOMERS, N.Y. -- It is one of the most meaningful gifts U.S. soldiers stationed overseas can receive: the chance to talk to their loved ones back home. Now, The Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation (The PBG Foundation) is giving that gift to deployed service members and hospitalized veterans - through the Veterans of Foreign Wars Operation Uplink program. The PBG Foundation is making a $20,000 donation to Operation Uplink on behalf of the company's more than 3,000 employees who are veterans.

The VFW's program provides individual calling cards to military personnel overseas and hospitalized veterans. The 5,000 soldiers who receive these cards will hear a message prior to each call telling them that their card was donated by The PBG Foundation on behalf of PBG's veterans. Funded solely by donations, Operation Uplink has distributed more than 8 million phone cards since its inception in 1996.

"We are thrilled that the VFW Foundation and Operation Uplink are the recipients of The Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation's benevolence," said Allen "Gunner" Kent, VFW adjutant general and president of the VFW Foundation. "What a wonderful Veterans Day tribute to our men and women in uniform. On behalf of all of our service members, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to the men and women of PBG: By bridging the communication gap, The Pepsi Bottling Group has brought smiles and tears to thousands of those who serve."

"As we thought about the best way to celebrate this Veterans Day, we decided that giving our troops something our own PBG veterans would have appreciated when they were deployed - an opportunity to speak to their families more often - would be a great way to honor both groups," said Eric J. Foss, President and Chief Executive Officer of PBG. "Through this donation, we salute all service people and veterans for the sacrifice they are making, and have made, for our country."

The VFW receives countless e-mails from service members about the impact these calling cards has on them - and their colleagues. "The phone cards make all the difference in the lives of the troops here," wrote Rachel Eichenberger, who is stationed at Camp Lemonier in the African nation of Djibouti. "The other day I handed my last few out to personnel and it was like Christmas for them."

The VFW assists all veterans and their families in obtaining veterans' entitlements and other services. In addition, the organization works for the well being of those serving on active duty, in the National Guard and the Reserves. Annually, the VFW contributes more than 14 million volunteer hours and more than $50 million toward community service projects. There are 2.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries located in approximately 8,500 Posts worldwide. Founded in 1899, the VFW is the nation's largest organization of combat veterans.

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, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Turkey and Greece.