Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston students attended the New England Patriots’ training camp for a fun filled day to jumpstart the new school year
BOSTON, August 13, 2024 – Yesterday, Gatorade, the world’s most superior sports drink, gave the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston a jumpstart on the new school year with a fun-filled “Get Fit for School” event hosted alongside the New England Patriots. While the New England Patriots geared up for the new football season, Gatorade empowered local Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston middle school students ahead of the upcoming school year by helping to remove barriers for participation in youth athletics and providing school supplies to set them up for success both on and off the field.
Strong evidence supports that physical activity and fitness levels are positively associated with cognitive performance and overall academic performance in youth. Young students involved in sports have lower school dropout rates, higher GPAs, up to 40% higher test scores than their counterparts and a statistically higher likelihood of attending college.
After the students watched the Patriots’ train up close, they were surprised by players who helped distribute backpacks filled with school supplies and Gatorade product for the students.
The Gatorade ‘Get Fit For School’ event is focused on advancing Gatorade’s Equity in Sports initiative designed to increase access to sports for underserved youth and educate communities on the importance of physical activity.
“We’re proud to support the Boston community in partnership with the New England Patriots and provide students with unique experiences as they prepare for the upcoming academic year,” said Mike Ruff, President of PepsiCo Beverages North America – North Division. “Sports played an important role in my life, and whether it's training on the field or learning in the classroom, we're honored to help set these students up for success.”
The Boston event is part of a larger effort to support students in the Northeast as they prepare for the new academic school year. Adelante, PepsiCo’s Hispanic Employee Resource Group, led fundraising throughout the summer to benefit students involved with Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston.
In addition, through a partnership with Gatorade’s Equity in Sports and DICK’s Foundation’s Sports Matter program, the brand is helping drive youth sports participation throughout the community. The Sports Matter grants – totaling $10,000 – are supporting Beyond Soccer Lawrence and Boston Road Runners, two organizations committed to youth development through sport in the Boston area.
About The Gatorade Portfolio
The Gatorade Portfolio, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), is a connected performance and wellness ecosystem built to fuel all athletes and exercisers. Bringing together Gatorade, Fast Twitch, Propel, Evolve and Muscle Milk, the Gatorade Portfolio is the most complete offering in the category today, with a broad range of personalized solutions at every stage of the athlete journey. This integrated system of brands is built on Gatorade's 59-year history of studying athletes and is fueling the future of athletic performance and wellness by delivering solutions across hydration, protein, energy, and all-day nutrition to fuel consumers, no matter how or why they sweat. For more information and a full list of product offerings, please visit www.gatorade.com.
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 $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
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ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS FOUNDATION
Robert Kraft established the New England Patriots Foundation in 1994 as a way to give back to the communities the Patriots call home. The mission of the foundation is to aid individuals and families that are often marginalized in today’s society. Through the implementation of year-round programming and support of philanthropic agencies, the foundation is building stronger communities throughout New England. For more information about the New England Patriots Foundation, visit www.patriots.com/community.
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