07/28/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/28/2021 06:24
PLANO, Texas, July 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As school closures due to COVID-19 had significant impacts on children's education this past year, the 2021 back-to-school season is more important than ever. To help shine a spotlight on the importance of introducing and retaining more students in STEM programs at an early age, Frito-Lay®Variety Packs is teaming up with Alyssa Carson, an aspiring astronaut and one of a just few certified Aquanauts, for the launch of its Back-to-School Blast Off campaign. As a part of the program, Frito-Lay Variety Packs will sponsor 50 girls for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Space Camp®over the next five years.
"I developed a love for space at a young age. I was fortunate enough to live out my dream to attend Space Camp, which helped me further cement my interest in the STEM field," said Carson. "I want to help kids get that hands-on experience at school and in their homes, which is why I'm excited to partner with Frito-Lay Variety Packs on their mission to help young students, especially female and under-represented community groups, develop their passion for space or any STEM opportunity they want to pursue."
STEM fields are predicted to experience the highest growth in job numbers between now and 2030, yet only 28 percent of the STEM workforce is female, only seven percent is Black and six percent is Hispanic.1Through a $150,000 donation, Frito-Lay Variety Packs has established the "Space for Her" Scholarship fund, which will send a total of 50 girls to Space Camp over the next five years. The brand has teamed up with the National Urban League and UnidosUS to select the inaugural class of young women, which includes:
A recent study shows that most girls become interested in STEM around the age of 11, but their interest starts to wane by the age of 152. That's why, as a part of the Space for Her scholarship, Frito-Lay Variety Packs will include scholarship winners in a "Space for Her-os" mentorship program, which will offer coaching and guidance on different career paths in the science and tech sector. The Space for Her-os mentors include:
"Getting girls excited about STEM is just one piece of the puzzle. We need to address the issue of retaining them in this field by giving more access to programs, mentors and resources," says Marissa Solis, senior vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay North America. "Frito-Lay Variety Packs has always been an important part of the back-to-school season and this year we want to make our impact even more meaningful by offering more ways to keep these bright, young women involved in the world of STEM."
Families across the country also have an opportunity to win a spot at Space Camp with the purchase of specially marked Frito-Lay Variety Packs. As a part of the Back-to-School Blast-Off campaign, fans can enter for a chance to be one of the ten Grand Prize Winners who will receive a one-week Space Camp experience at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center®in Huntsville, Alabama. For official rules please visitFLVPBlastoff.com.
The fun doesn't stop there: Fans can also visitFLVPBlastOff.comfor STEM activities created by NASA Scientists that kids and families can do with everyday household items.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business strategy and brands. For more information, visitwww.pepsico.com.
About the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga
The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga is an affiliate of the National Urban League, the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans and other underserved individuals to enter the economic and social mainstream. Since 1982, the Chattanooga affiliate has served many thousands of economically disadvantaged persons, individuals representing communities of color and minority-owned businesses through programs and initiatives that promote educational attainment, economic development, self-sufficiency and inclusive leadership opportunities. For more information, visitwww.ulchatt.net.
About UnidosUS
UnidosUS previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and anAffiliate Networkof nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our country stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visitwww.unidosus.orgor follow us onFacebook,Instagram, andTwitter.
About Space Camp®
Space Camp®is an internationally renowned program of theU.S. Space & Rocket Center®, the Official Visitor Center for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and a Smithsonian Affiliate. Since 1982, nearly 1 million trainees of all ages from across the United States and 150 countries have participated in Space Camp programs. Trainees work as a team on hands-on activities, take part in simulated space missions and learn what it really means to be an astronaut. Our immersive curriculum teaches STEM principles, leadership and critical-thinking skills, while encouraging fun and creativity. For more information about Space Camp and its affiliate programs, Space Camp®Robotics, Aviation Challenge®and U.S. Cyber Camp®, visitspacecamp.com.
1"The STEM Gap: Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math", AAUW.
2Closing the STEM Gap: Why STEM classes and careers still lack girls and what we can do about it, Microsoft, 2020.