Timeline of Diversity

PepsiCo names Ronald E. Harrison Senior Vice President, Global Diversity and Community Affairs, to further build its diversity efforts. It is one of the few companies to have a dedicated leader at the highest levels of management.

Minority Business News DFW magazine (January/February) features Frito-Lay's supplier diversity program.

The Women's Business Council names Bob Gonzalez, Group Manager, Minority/Women Business Development for Frito-Lay Corporate Advocate of the Year, Southwest.

PepsiCo moves up to #13 in FORTUNE Magazine's annual rating of Best Companies for Minorities.

Indra Nooyi is named President and Chief Financial Officer of PepsiCo and is elected to the Board of Directors.

Working Woman magazine lists PepsiCo for honorable mention in its survey of Top Companies for Women and Minority-Owned Suppliers.

Hispanic Business Magazine lists Quaker as one of its top 25 "Best Companies for Hispanics to Work for."

Catalyst survey of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners lists PepsiCo among top 100 companies.

PepsiCo selected as one of the top 50 corporations in Supplier Diversity by DIV2000.

Latina Style magazine names PepsiCo as one of its "50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work for in the US."

Denise Griffith, Region Vice President, Sales for Frito-Lay, is named one of the "Women at the Top in Corporate America" by Ebony magazine.

Hispanic Business magazine names Marie Cummiskey, PepsiCo Vice President of Technology, as one of the "Top 50 Hispanic Women in Business."

Minority MBA magazine features Brian Jones, Director, Information Technology, PepsiCo and Sandi Karrmann, Vice President Human Resources, Frito-Lay as among the "Next Generation of Minority Business Leaders."

Minority MBA magazine names PepsiCo one of its "Top Companies for Minority MBAs, 2001."

Mcompany presented Frito-Lay North America with its "Sharing Success Award" and named it among the Best of the Decade companies for its commitment to supplier diversity and minority- and women-owned businesses. Sharing Success Award.

The Association of National Advertisers presents PepsiCo with the Multicultural Excellence Award for excellence in Hispanic advertising and donates $5,000 to the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund in honor of PepsiCo.

The American Advertising Federation Center on Multiculturalism presents PepsiCo with a Corporate Mosaic Award for its "strategic embrace of multicultural marketing and ethnic media and for implementing goal-oriented diversity initiatives."

aMagazine names PepsiCo President and Chief Financial Officer Indra Nooyi ninth on its list of the "25 most noteworthy Asians in America of 2001."

The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding presents PepsiCo with its "Corporate Diversity Award."

US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine spotlight two Pepsi-Cola employees as minority woman who are making a difference in filling the nation's expanding need for technical workers and scientists. The women are Gwendolyn Darling, R&D Documentation Manager, and Opukua Y. Kwapong, R&D Director, Innovation/Non-Carbonated Beverages.

PepsiCo was named one of one of America's Top Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities by Div2000.com in its second annual internet election. Over 100,000 women- and minority-owned businesses had the opportunity to select the top 50 Fortune 500 Corporations and top 20 government agencies.

The Smithsonian Institution, in cooperation with The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and PepsiCo, presents "In the Spirit of Martin, The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." traveling fine arts exhibition.

The American Advertising Federation honors Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo President and Chief Financial Officer, with its District Two Diversity Achievement Award.

DiversityInc.com, an online publication, announces "The Diversity Cola Wars: Pepsi Beats Coke."

Frito-Lay receives "The Corporation of the Year Award" from the Women's Business Council- Southwest. The award recognizes a consistent commitment to women-owned business suppliers through purchasing practices and results.

PepsiCo sponsors Rainbow Push Wall Street Project event with the goal of increasing minority participation in the economy.

Jaime Vasquez, Senior Marketing Manager, Sierra Mist, for Pepsi-Cola North America receives "Outstanding Hispanic MBA Award" from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, New York Chapter.

PepsiCo receives "Corporation of the Year Award" from SER, Jobs for Progress, Inc.

DiversityInc.com, an online publication devoted to diversity, names PepsiCo to its list of the "Top 50 Companies in Diversity for 2001." PepsiCo is #19 overall and #10 in Supplier Diversity.

Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay are Gold Sponsors of the 2002 American Latino Media Arts Awards (ALMA Awards). ALMA honors the outstanding artistic achievement and enhancement of the Latino image in entertainment.

PepsiCo is recognized by Latina Style Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Best Companies for Hispanic Woman to Work for in the U.S."

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) highlights PepsiCo in a study reviewing "HACR Corporate Best Practices." PepsiCo's commitment to diversity, promotion and retention is spotlighted. HACR is a coalition of the largest and most influential Hispanic community organizations in the United States.

AdAge magazine feature (June 3, 2002) "Special Report/Women to Watch" spotlights Rebeca Johnson, Vice President, Ethnic and Urban Marketing for Frito-Lay North America. She is cited for her innovative Hispanic advertising and marketing campaigns.

Fortune magazine names PepsiCo #15 on its 2002 list of the "50 Best Companies for Minorities."

PepsiCo begins consolidation of its supplier diversity purchasing programs. Bob Gonzalez is appointed PepsiCo Vice President of Supplier Diversity.

PCNA has named minority-owned, Spike DDB, its multicultural advertising agency of record. The agency's first commercial work for PCNA will be a TV ad starring music and film sensation Beyonce Knowles.

PepsiCo supports the University of Michigan in the Supreme Court battle to preserve affirmative action.

PCNA President Dawn Hudson is named 2002 Advertising Woman of the Year by Advertising Women of New York.

PepsiCo is ranked #18 in America's Top Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities - 2002, Div2000.com's third annual Internet election.

Pepsi-Cola increases its annual financial commitment to Women's Foodservice Forum.

PepsiCo and Frito-Lay co-chair the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Capital Awards banquet.

PepsiCo is named to the "Elite Eight" list for the Women's Business Enterprise by Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

PepsiCo is named among "50 Best Companies for Hispanic Women to Work For in the U.S." by Latina Style Magazine. This is the fourth consecutive year it has been recognized.

PepsiCo is named to DiversityInc's "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" for the third consecutive year.

PCNA Foodservice Division's Vice President of Industry Relations, Steve Caldeira receives Women's Foodservice Forum's Director's Award.

SoBe introduces a new Latin-inspired mango passion fruit-flavored beverage called SoBe Fuerte, which will first be available in Texas, San Diego and South Florida.

PepsiCo Beverages & Food Law Department is named "Employer of Choice" by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA).

The Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council honors two Frito-Lay executives during its 30th anniversary celebration. Recognized are James O'Neal and Jerry Martin for their roles in building the Council.

PepsiCo introduces Harvey C. Russell Inclusion Award to recognize outstanding achievement in advancing diversity and inclusion at PepsiCo. The Award is named after former PepsiCo executive Harvey Russell, the first vice president of a national corporation who was African-American. He was appointed in 1962 and spent his 32-year career at PepsiCo promoting corporate citizenship.

PepsiCo releases a Spanish-language "Power of One" television commercial starring Puerto Rican singer and actor, Ponce, and Velasquez, a Mexican-American singer and actress.

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law presents PepsiCo with the A Leon Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Award for its longstanding commitment to diversity and its pioneering history in addressing diversity and inclusion.

Pam Thomas, PepsiCo Manager of Community Affairs, receives Bethune Recognition Award from the National Council of Negro Women, New York State, for her work expanding the company's community activities.

Salados Hispanos magazine names PepsiCo a Leader of Distinction in supplier diversity programs for Hispanic-owned businesses.

Fortune Magazine ranks PepsiCo #9 in its "50 Best Companies for Minorities" survey.

PepsiCo's MWBE website makes the grade when DiversityInc gives it an A-, the highest ranking in a comparison of diversity web sites among soft-drink companies.

The U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce presents PepsiCo President and CFO Indra Nooyi with the "Women's Pioneer Award."

Fortune magazine(Oct. 13, 2003) "The 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business" names Indra Nooyi, President and CFO of PepsiCo, #8 and Dawn Hudson, President of Pepsi-Cola North America, #50 on the list.

Frito-Lay is named "Corporation of the Year" for its supplier diversity program by the North Texas MED Committee.

PepsiCo receives corporate "Champion of Child Care Award" from the Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. The award recognizes PepsiCo's commitment to helping employees balance their work and home lives as well as the corporation's support of organizations associated with families and children, including child care centers.

PepsiCo's Vice President of Supplier Diversity, Bob Gonzalez is awarded the Corporate Procurement Award by the National Hispanic Business Group. The award recognizes industry leaders in corporate America who have been instrumental in assisting the Hispanic business community.

Rose Broussard of Frito-Lay is recognized as Women's Enterprise magazine as one of their six 2003 Women of Excellence in Texas.

The New York/New Jersey Minority Business Development Council names Fred Canady Coordinator of the Year.

Based on results from the Universum Survey - American Diversity Edition 2003 - the Black Collegian names PepsiCo among its Top 50 Diversity Employers 2003.

PepsiCo is honored by the National Hispanic Corporate Council (NHCC) for being selected to FORTUNE's 2003 list of "50 Best Companies for Minorities."

DiversityBusiness.com (formerly Div2000.com) ranks PepsiCo #19 on its list of "America's 50 Top Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities - 2003." As PepsiCo's fourth consecutive year being selected, the award recognizes companies' commitment to supporting women- and minority-owned businesses.

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) names PepsiCo among the "NAFE Top 30 Companies for Executive Women."

The Women President's Educational Organization (WPEO) recognizes PepsiCo as Outstanding Corporation from the New York Region. The selection criteria is based on the contributions made to women business owners and the women's business community.

Pepsi-Cola Wins 'Reggie Award' for Black History Month Promotion Pepsi-Cola recently received a Reggie Award, the most prestigious award in the promotion marketing field, for its 2003 "Black History Month: Create Your Own History" promotion, Brandweek reports.

PepsiCo is recognized as one of "America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises" by WBENC for the second year in a row.

DiversityInc ranks PepsiCo #5 (up from #25) in its 2004 list of "Top 50 Companies for Diversity." PepsiCo also ranked first in the "Top 10 Companies for African Americans" and the "Top 10 Companies for Latinos."

FORTUNE magazine names PepsiCo #7 in its list of "50 Best Companies for Minorities."

PepsiCo is named in DiversityBusiness.com for "Nation's Top 50 Corporations for Multicultural Business" (4th year in a row for PepsiCo).

PepsiCo's Steve Reinemund was selected by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to receive the "Leadership Award".

The Black Collegian magazine names PepsiCo among "The Top Diversity Employers 2004."

LATINA Style Magazines names PepsiCo among the 50 Best Companies to Work for in the U.S.

Minority Business News presents Steve Reinemund with Executive of the Year Award for Supplier Diversity - Sept. 7, 2004.

Diversity Inc Names PepsiCo Internet a Superstar for Diversity (Oct/Nov 2004).

Human Rights Campaign names PepsiCo one of the Best Companies for Gay Employees: PepsiCo receives a score of 100 on Corporate Equality Index.

The Black Collegian magazine names PepsiCo among "The Top Diversity Employers 2004."

PepsiCo's Steve Reinemund was selected by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to receive the "Leadership Award".

Latin Trade Reader Survey Names PepsiCo #7 in list of Latin America's 25 Most-Respected Companies.

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) names PepsiCo one of the "Corporations of the Year".

Pepsi Musica Website Wins "Best Interactive Marketing Digital Community" Award from the Latino Marketing Awards.

DiversityInc magazine recognizes the PepsiCo Internet site as a "Superstar" website for "excellence in using the Internet in their efforts to promote their dedication to diversity."

Latin Business Magazine names PepsiCo to Corporate Diversity Honor Roll.

The Advocate magazine names PepsiCo to its list of Best Employers.

Black Enterprise magazine names PepsiCo one of best employers of minorities.

PepsiCo and Wayne Calloway, then Chairman and CEO, are honored with Girl Scout's Leadership Award from Girl Scouts of Westchester/Putnam.

Frito-Lay is named Corporation of the Year by the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council.

Bob Gonzalez, Group Manager Minority/ Women Business Development for Frito-Lay, receives the Helping Hands Award from the Dallas/ Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council (MBDC).

Ronald E. Harrison, Vice President of Community Relations, is presented with Herbert H. Wright Award during the National Urban League Conference.

Hispanic magazine names PepsiCo one of the top employers for Hispanics.

Pepsi-Cola receives the NAACP Corporate Recognition Award for Leadership in Minority Vendor Purchasing.

Pepsi-Cola receives Best Practice Award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Frito-Lay is named Corporation of the Year by the North Texas Women's Business Council and the North Texas MED Week Committee.

Frito-Lay receives Pacesetter Award from the Dallas Together Forum.

Frito-Lay is nominated Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Bob Gonzalez, Group Manager, Minority/Women Business Development for Frito-Lay, receives the Corporate Advocate of the Year Award from the Dallas/ Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council (MBDC).

Deborah Sims-Beck, Minority/Women Business Development Coordinator for Frito-Lay, receives the Helping Hands Award from the Dallas/ Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council (MBDC).

Frito-Lay is named Corporation of the Year by the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

Frito-Lay is nominated Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

PepsiCo begins formal tracking of Women Business Enterprise suppliers.

Deepak Aurora, Operations Manager for Frito-Lay, receives the Science and Technology Award from the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

Bob Gonzalez, Group Manager, Minority/Women Business Development for Frito-Lay, is recognized as the Tricon Global Restaurants Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year.

James O'Neal, then President and Chief Executive Officer, Frito-Lay International, and Leonard Schutzman, then PepsiCo Treasurer, are presented with the Leadership Award by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Council on Economic Priorities (CEP) names PepsiCo to its Honor Roll. PepsiCo is one of 35 companies recognized as tops in minority and women's advancement, workplace issues, family benefits, charitable giving, community outreach, environment and social disclosure.

The Business Consortium Fund (BCF) awards PepsiCo "President's Star Award" for work in furthering the mission and objectives of BCF, a firm that provides capital to minority business. PepsiCo was an early supporter.

Pepsi-Cola receives the 1998 Award for Supplier Diversity at the Multi-Cultural Prism Awards presentations of Minorities in Business magazine.

The PepsiCo Foundation makes a $100,000 memorial gift to the Boule Foundation in memory of Pepsi-Cola Vice President Harvey C. Russell, the first African-American to be appointed a vice president of a Fortune 500 corporation. The grant will be used to sponsor scholarships for graduate business school students from the African-American community.

Pepsi-Cola receives the Corporate Award from the Westchester Center for Training and Development.

Pepsi-Cola is named winner of the Supplier Diversity Prism Award from Minorities in Business magazine.

FORTUNE magazine names PepsiCo one of "The 50 Best Companies for Asians, Blacks and Hispanics."

Hispanic magazine names Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay to its Hispanic Corporate 100 list of companies providing the best opportunities for Hispanics.

Franklin D. Raines, Chairman and CEO, Fannie Mae, is elected to the PepsiCo Board of Directors.

Cynthia M. Trudell, Vice President, General Motors and Chairman and President, Saturn Corporation, is elected to the PepsiCo Board of Directors.

Solomon D. Trujillo, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, U S WEST, Inc. is elected to the Board of Directors.

Pepsi-Cola receives a Certificate of Recognition from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Pepsi-Cola receives an Outstanding Corporate Support Award from the National Minority Purchasing Council.

Bob Gonzalez, Group Manger, Minority/Women Business Development for Frito-Lay, receives the Minority Company Catalyst Award.

Pepsi-Cola is named Corporation of the Year by the New York/New Jersey Minority Purchasing Council.

Frito-Lay is named Corporation of the Year by the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council and the North Texas MED Week Committee.

The PepsiCo Foundation, Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay sponsor the Executive Leadership Council and Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that provides African-American senior corporate executives a professional network and forum.

Female, Hispanic and African-American employee networks are formed at PepsiCo.

Ray Charles and the "Uh-Huh Girls" appear in an ad for Diet Pepsi.

Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal stars in Pepsi commercial.

PepsiCo is named one of the 10 best companies to work for by Tom Peters, author of "In Search of Excellence."

PepsiCo is instrumental in conceiving and coordinating the first Hispanic Education Forum, spotlighting corporation/community partnerships.

Pepsi-Cola is named to Hispanic 100 list by Hispanic magazine as one of the companies providing the most opportunities for Hispanics.

PepsiCo provides grant and facilities for training session for "A World of Difference" prejudice awareness and reduction campaign created by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith.

PepsiCo hosts Youth Summit Conference on "Building Strength Through Diversity". A PepsiCo Foundation donation is presented to the Coalition for Mutual Respect, an organization dedicated to maintaining greater understanding among Blacks and Jews.

Dr. H. Naylor Fitzhugh, then retired Vice President of Pepsi-Cola, receives the Executive Leadership Council's Heritage Award for his lifelong contributions to the advancement of African-Americans in business.

Frito-Lay introduced Y.E.S. for Young Entrepreneurs, a program to develop entrepreneurial skills in minority youth.

Pepsi-Cola receives National Corporate MBE Award from the Austin, Texas Business Opportunity Symposium Series.

Pepsi-Cola is recognized for its programs by the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund, Washington, D.C.

Pepsi-Cola announces the formation of the largest minority-controlled Pepsi-Cola franchise in the U.S.

Roger Enrico, then Chairman and CEO of Frito-Lay, receives New Direction Award from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs for his involvement in minority economic development.

PepsiCo receives award for corporate sponsorship of the League of United Latin American Citizen's (LULAC).

Pepsi-Cola is recognized for Outstanding Minority Business Achievement by the New York/New Jersey Purchasing Council.

Pepsi-Cola is noted for Exceptional Merit for its MBE Program by the Community Action Network.

Pepsi-Cola is named one of top 25 best corporations for African-Americans to work for by Black Enterprise magazine.

Wayne Calloway, then PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, receives Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith "Champions of Liberty Award" for his efforts to "improve the quality of life for all races and faiths."

PepsiCo and the Westchester Philharmonic join forces to create "MusicAmerica," a unique musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., designed to unite all segments of the community in support of Dr. King's goals. The music program benefits nonprofit organizations.

PepsiCo is recognized with the Hispanic 100 Award for its outstanding contribution to the Hispanic community in the United States.

Pepsi-Cola is honored by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education for its support of the nation's historically and predominantly Black colleges and universities.

Pepsi-Cola receives six CEBA (Communications Excellence to Black Audiences) Awards. The awards cite the company's sponsorship of The Boys Choir of Harlem's national tour and Pepsi-Cola's massive distribution of 30,000 videotapes of the motion picture "Glory."

Pepsi-Cola is named Corporation of the Year and Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the Austin Metropolitan Business Resource Center.

Hispanic Business magazine names PepsiCo #7 of top 20 companies for Hispanics.

Hispanic magazine names PepsiCo one of the "100 Companies Providing the Most Opportunity for Hispanics."

PepsiCo hosts the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA).

PepsiCo and Pepsi-Cola are named to 1994 Hispanic 100 for providing opportunities to Hispanics.

PepsiCo receives Executive Leadership Council's 1994 Corporate Award for "distinguished record as a corporate leader in creating real opportunity for African-Americans".

Brenda Barnes is named division president for Pepsi-Cola North America, making her one of the few women to head an operating division of a major company.

Harvey Russell, former PepsiCo Corporate Vice President, and PepsiCo are honored by the Executive Leadership Council for significant business contributions to or on behalf of African-Americans.

PepsiCo's now-annual celebration of Black History Month features Robert L. Johnson, Founder and President of Black Entertainment Television (BET).

PepsiCo begins formalized diversity training.

Franklin A. Thomas, then Ford Foundation President, joins the PepsiCo Board of Directors.

Frito-Lay receives a Pacesetter Award from the Dallas Together Forum.

Frito-Lay adopts A. Maceo Smith (AMS) High School, a predominantly African-American inner city school in the Dallas public school system.

Frito-Lay program provides scholarships to minority students at Paul Quinn College.

Pepsi begins its successful "Entertainment Marketing" strategy. This includes sponsorship of major music tours such as Tina Turner, Miami Sound Machine and Lionel Richie.

Michael Jackson and his brothers appear in two of the most eagerly awaited television commercials featuring music marketing. Jackson signs on for more ads in 1986.

The Pepsi-Cola Black Employee's Association, the company's first employee network, is formed to help the company deal more effectively with diversity.

Pepsi launches a minority intern program to recruit students from historically black colleges and universities and rolls out a race relations training program for executives and managers.

The PepsiCo Foundation begins support of "A Better Chance" (ABC), a program to identify, recruit and develop leaders among young people of color. Talented minority students are placed in private and public top-rated college preparatory schools at virtually no cost to students' families.

PepsiCo is one of the original sponsors of the "Leadership, Education and Development" (LEAD) program, a joint education and business project to attract talented minority students to business careers.

PepsiCo pledges $1 million to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). This is the first time a company makes a commitment of this magnitude to UNCF. It sets the stage for similar commitments made subsequently by other companies.

Frito-Lay spokesperson Restauranteur Fernando Escandon is established as "The Mexican Food Expert."

The Harlem Branch YMCA names four PepsiCo employees as "Black Achievers." The program recognizes outstanding achievement among minority persons in business and industry.

Pepsi-Cola receives the National Association for Industry-Education Cooperation "Educational Sponsorship Award" for its "Learn and Earn" educational program. The program, created in 1968 by H. Naylor Fitzhugh, Vice President of Pepsi-Cola, teaches students to become entrepreneurs.

Frito-Lay, in cooperation with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) sponsors a nationwide competition "Salute to Black Women Who Make it Happen," to honor Black women who have made significant contributions to the progress of humanity. The company receives the Golden Legacy award from NCNW.

PepsiCo begins hosting an annual program for employees and the community in salute of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pepsi runs the first-ever Spanish-language TV commercial on a major network. The ad, featuring singer Chayanne, is shown during the Grammy Awards broadcast.

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Donald M. Kendall receives the first Equal Justice Award from NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF).

PepsiCo joins the first national commemoration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by sponsoring a star-studded evening of celebration at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Other activities, including national and state receptions, are also sponsored. 1986 Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and Chief Executive Officer WETA Public Stations, Washington, D.C., joins the PepsiCo Board of Directors.

Pepsi-Cola Company receives Majority Firm of the Year Award from the Minority Business Development Agency.

Pepsi-Cola receives the corporate award for Outstanding Minority Business Enterprise Support from the U.S. Department of Commerce, New York Region.

John W. Ewing, Frito-Lay Senior Vice President, chairs Amigos de SER, an organization composed of corporate representatives that support SER, Jobs for Progress.

Frito-Lay sponsors "Celebration of Achievement," an essay contest in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that studies Black historical figures who have made enduring contributions to American life.

Pepsi-Cola USA funds "The Color of Freedom," a documentary produced by Tony Brown Productions.

Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey becomes the first African-American to own 100 percent of any major franchise soft drink bottling operation in the United States.

The PepsiCo Foundation makes a donation to the newly established Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute.

PepsiCo commits $1 million to help start up the Business Consortium Fund (BCF); a nonprofit loan program that provides working capital to certified minority suppliers. Len Schutzman, then PepsiCo Senior Vice President and Treasurer, serves as the first chairman.

PepsiCo begins sponsorship of annual event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pepsi-Cola receives 1987 Helping Hands Award from the New York/New Jersey Minority Purchasing Council.

Pepsi-Cola receives the Director's Appreciation Award from the Department of Commerce during Minority Enterprise Development Week.

Frito-Lay receives the Industrial Corporation of the Year Award from the Orlando Minority Business Development Center, a regional office of the US Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Council.

Pepsi-Cola underwrites a special Michael Jackson benefit concert at Madison Square Garden that raises $600,000 for the United Negro College Fund.

PepsiCo is named one of the "52 Best Companies for Women" in a book (Simon and Schuster) by Baila Zeitz, Ph.D. and Lorraine Dusky. The authors look at recruitment, hiring, promotion, opportunities, pay, commitment to equality, flexibility for parenting needs and policies on sexual harassment.

The PepsiCo Foundation donates $1 million to the Arizona State University College of Business. The grant targets MBA candidates, particularly Hispanic and other minority students.

Pepsi-Cola receives the 1988 Helping Hands Award from the New York/New Jersey Minority Purchasing Council.

Frito-Lay bag redemption promotion raises funds for "Parque de la Amistad" (Friendship Playground), a playground for the Houston Hispanic community.

Pepsi-Cola hosts "Marketing Excellence in Education" seminar for educators from the nation's historically and predominantly Black colleges and universities to consult on marketing of the schools.

Pepsi-Cola supports "Field to Factory" exhibit at Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

Frito-Lay receives the Corporation of the Year Award from the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council.

The National Association of Minority Contractors presents Frito-Lay the Major Corporation Program Award.

Wayne Calloway, then PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, receives the first Public Service Award from the National Association of Broadcasters for commitment to improving the quality of life for all Americans.

Black Enterprise magazine names PepsiCo one of 35 "Top Firms for Minorities."

PepsiCo hosts "Black Artists at Work" exhibit featuring contemporary artists from the Studio Museum in Harlem.

PepsiCo, Philip Morris Companies and General Motors join with the Institute for American Business to honor exemplary Black leaders with an awards program.

Frito-Lay establishes "Business in the Mainstream," a program in marketing, selling and bidding techniques offered to minority vendors.

Frito-Lay provides scholarships to presidents and senior managers of minority-owned businesses to attend the Minority Business Executive Program at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.

The PepsiCo Foundation commits $1.5 million over seven years for United Negro College Fund's capital campaign. Several PepsiCo executives have served on Board of Directors.

Pepsi-Cola is named Corporation of the Year by the St. Louis Minority Purchasing Council.

Pepsi-Cola receives the National Award of Excellence from Minorities and Women in Business.

Frito-Lay is named Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Frito-Lay receives Award of Appreciation for its minority business activities from the Small Business Association.

William Coleman joins the PepsiCo Board of Directors. He is among the first African-Americans on the board of a major corporation.

Pepsi-Cola introduces "Black Presence" poster series honoring pioneers in achievement. The series is displayed at conventions and conferences and distributed to schools, churches and libraries.

Pepsi sponsors the first jingle in national radio advertising history. Introduced in 1939, the campaign runs for 10 years, and the Pepsi-Cola song proves so popular it is eventually recorded in 55 languages.

Pepsi sponsors a national essay-writing contest open to "all Americans." Among the 13 finalists are two African-Americans, Allen McKellar and Jeanette Maund. As prizes they are given jobs with Pepsi. With their hiring, Pepsi becomes one of the first major companies to employ college-educated African-Americans in professional positions.

The Rodriquez family of Laredo, Texas purchases the franchise rights to make, sell and market Pepsi-Cola products in South Texas. Theirs is the first minority-owned franchise in the US.

As a result of segregated regiments in World War II, Pepsi-Cola is the only soft drink available to African-American soldiers. By the end of World War II, it is the soft drink of choice among African-Americans in the Armed Forces overseas.

Walter Mack hires Edward Boyd, a former executive of the National Urban League, to develop a program to increase Pepsi sales to African-Americans. Boyd's team of 10 African-Americans travels the country telling the Pepsi story of equality. Boyd is generally credited with being the first to use "target marketing."

Pepsi-Cola is one of the earliest corporate contributors to the United Negro College Fund with grants of $1000 in 1946 and 1947, and has provided significant financial assistance to the Fund continuously since 1954.

Harvey Russell, who joined Pepsi-Cola in 1950, succeeds Edward Boyd as leader of the ethnic sales team.

Robert Dalmau becomes the first Latino to hold a professional sales position at Pepsi.

Harvey C. Russell is named Vice President, Corporate Planning for Pepsi-Cola Company, the first African-American vice president of a major corporation. He is featured in Ebony magazine. In spite of Ku Klux Klan attempts to organize a national boycott against Pepsi, the company stands firm in its decision.

Pepsi's new "Think Young" advertising campaign includes minorities.