PepsiCo Gives Harlem Students a League of Their Own as Sponsor of Asphalt Green’s Community Sports Leagues

– PepsiCo Pep Rally to take place October 25 at Asphalt Green–

(New York, NY) – Sports can teach leadership and teamwork, as well as build self-esteem and confidence.  In New York City, children from low-income neighborhoods have limited access to organized sports and opportunities to exercise. PepsiCo is stepping up to the plate to help change that as sponsor of Asphalt Green’s 2014 Community Sports Leagues flag football season. This year, PepsiCo will provide more than 250 students from 16 Harlem public and charter middle schools an opportunity to play for their school teams for free. The fall co-ed flag football season ends December 13 with the league championship game.

On October 25, PepsiCo volunteers will turn up the school spirit meter with a lively PepsiCo Pep Rally for participants on Asphalt Green’s flag football field. Spectators and league participants will test their abilities against two skills stations, including a football target throw, and cheer on athletes during their games immediately following. Media and community members are welcome to celebrate with the participants:
 
            WHAT: PepsiCo Pep Rally for Asphalt Green Community Sports Leagues
            WHEN: Saturday, October 25 at 6:30pm
            WHERE: Asphalt Green Field, 90th Street between York and East End Avenues, NYC

Introduced in 2009, Asphalt Green launched the Community Sports Leagues program to give middle school children their own school sports experience. Through these team sports and through promoting sportsmanship, responsibility and healthy exercise habits, students are developing important life skills in addition to some school spirit.

Asphalt Green provides its renowned expertise and resources to ensure an authentic and high-quality sports experience. Each season includes: instructional clinics with Asphalt Green coaches and instructors, 8-10 games with professional referees, free jerseys and cleats for all team members, an all-star game and a championship award celebration with individual and team trophies.

Asphalt Green offers three sport leagues throughout the year. In the fall, co-ed flag football leagues compete at Asphalt Green’s Upper East Side campus. During the winter months, boys and girls basketball teams take to the court in Harlem gymnasiums. Finally, in the spring, a soccer season for boys and girls teams is held at Asphalt Green’s Upper East Side campus. This year, a total of 750 students will have participated in the Community Sports League program.

For more information on Asphalt Green’s Community Sports Leagues: http://www.asphaltgreen.org/c-2156-p2624-Community-Sports-Leagues.aspx

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

About Asphalt Green

Asphalt Green is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting individuals of all ages and backgrounds achieve health through a lifetime of sports and fitness. Community service is at the core of the organization’s origin and the heart of its mission. A city-wide institution, Asphalt Green has two first class campuses: a beautiful 5½-acre Upper East Side campus and a 52,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Battery Park City. Asphalt Green will help more than 33,000 public school children be fit this year through free programs in schoolyards, gymnasiums, and pools across New York City. www.asphaltgreen.org