For Immediate Release:

  

 

THE PEPSICO FOUNDATION AWARDS $12,000 GRANT TO GEDDI

FOR BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM: JUST BOSS UP ACADEMY

 Louisville, KY (January 2021) – The Global Economic Diversity Development Initiative (GEDDI) announces the awarding of a $12,000 grant from The PepsiCo Foundation to fund the Just Boss Up Academy business acceleration program. 

GEDDI is a 501(c)3 non-profit focused on building economic wealth for the Black Community in the following areas: workforce opportunities, economic empowerment, supply chain opportunities, leadership and development, as well as business acceleration.  GEDDI is a 100% Black-founded and Black-led foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Just Boss Up Academy business accelerator program is designed to provide founders with the access, resources, and tools to have a legally established business.  Each participant will graduate with a business plan, brand identity package, proper business registration, corporate structure, and insurances.

This grant from PepsiCo’s philanthropic arm is part of the company’s more than $400 million set of initiatives over five years to help address the need for systemic change and to help advance economic empowerment for Black Americans. 

“We are thrilled to receive the much-needed funding and are very thankful to The PepsiCo Foundation for their support,” said Cherena Fox, Just Boss Up Academy Program Director.  “Black-owned businesses face more obstacles than our white counterparts, so we need to focus our attention on building confidence in the future of Black business owners and equip them with the right tools while helping them to navigate these obstacles.”

“GEDDI’s vital work helps Kentuckians build successful careers and flourishing businesses, supporting our local economic vitality,” said Kyle Lowens, Sr. Manager, PepsiCo Foodservice. “Across the country, PepsiCo is working to help dismantle the systemic racial barriers that for generations have blocked social and economic progress for Black people. As part of that, we are proud to support GEDDI and we encourage other local employers and organizations to take action to lift up Black communities.”

“Of course, we still have a long way to go in creating and fostering the racial equity our nation and community needs to heal.” said Tawana Bain, Founder and Chairwoman of the Board.  “But when community partners like The PepsiCo Foundation recognize GEDDI to be a trusted steward over community dollars, it not only makes a big impression on the program recipients, but it places us one step closer to other community leaders recognizing the need to diversify their giving in order to spur new economic activity within the eco-system.”

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About The PepsiCo Foundation

Established in 1962, The PepsiCo Foundation works with nonprofit partners and invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system – helping alleviate hunger, manage water and waste responsibly, and support women as champions of nutrition from farm to family. For more information, please visit https://www.pepsico.com/sustainability/philanthropy.

About GEDDI

The Global Economic Diversity Development Initiative (GEDDI) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit foundation created to further the diversity, equity, and inclusion work the Derby Diversity Business Summit initiated in 2017. With a specific emphasis on addressing the systemic issues within the Black Community, GEDDI seeks donations to afford its fund development arm the ability to make grants to non-profit and for-profit recipients focused on building economic wealth for the Black community in the following areas – workforce opportunities, economic empowerment, supply chain opportunities, leadership and development, as well as business acceleration. GEDDI is a 100% Black founded and Black lead foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky whose sole purpose over the next 5 years is to create equity and opportunity for the Black Community utilizing a proprietary system. Visit GEDDI.org to learn more and to donate.