The PepsiCo Foundation is helping to create future employees and entrepreneurs in US through scholarship and workforce development programmes, providing students with financial support, networking opportunities, and career guidance. As part of its ongoing mission to drive positive change in the communities, in the last five years the foundation awarded nearly 6,000 scholarships in United States. In 2024 alone, the foundation will have awarded more than 1,800 scholarships valued at nearly $8.4 million to students across US.

The foundation supports multiple educational access and workforce development programmes that unlock access to education, with the three signature programmes:  PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars, PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. (Supportive Mentorship for Inspiring Leaders and Entrepreneurs) Scholarship, and PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship.

The Family Scholars programme aims to support PepsiCo employees in the financial burden of post-secondary education and foster long-term success for the children and communities of PepsiCo employees.

Mike B, a PepsiCo employee of nearly 30 years, encouraged his daughter, Shaye, to apply for the PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars program. As a scholarship recipient, Shaye received financial support for all five years of her university studies. “To see PepsiCo invest in my daughter’s future like that was just amazing,” said Mike.

Following her graduation, Shaye was chosen to complete a sales leadership programme with PepsiCo and now works for the company full-time in a regional sales role. “The support helped me turn my part-time summer job with PepsiCo into a career. The scholarship gave me a chance to blaze my own trail at PepsiCo,” said Shaye.