What do YOU Care About, Canada?

As Canada Day draws near, Canadians report feeling optimistic about our future, and
92% believe most Canadians would like to make Canada even better, says poll

Every Canadian resident 13 years of age and older can vote to effect change through the
groundbreaking Pepsi Refresh Project starting this Canada Day

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 29 /CNW/ - This Canada Day, not only do 243 online campaigns launch to make this great country even better, but every single Canadian resident 13 years of age and older gets a say in which campaigns offer the best ways to do it. The campaigns are part of the Pepsi Refresh Project, a movement sweeping across the nation that rewards do-good ideas with more than $1 million in grant money to fulfill them.

While Canada has been consistently ranked one of the top countries in the world in which to live by numerous international sources, Canadians young and old see opportunities to make it even better, as evidenced in the early June rush to submit ideas to www.refresheverything.ca. The maximum number of submissions was received within 60 hours of submissions opening on June 1.

"There's no doubt that Canadians love this country, and with good reason," said Dev Aujla, Executive Director and Founder of DreamNow.org and an ambassador for the Pepsi Refresh Project. "This Canada Day and for the year ahead, we're providing both an opportunity and over $1 million for Canadians to decide how to make it even better through the Pepsi Refresh Project. Starting July 1, 243 Canadians with passion and vision will start promoting their ideas for change. Make sure you get out and vote this Canada Day for your favourite project to move Canada forward."

A national Ipsos-Reid poll commissioned by the Pepsi Refresh Project this spring looked at Canadians' views on optimism, empowerment and what holds us back from achieving social good. A few key poll highlights include:

• Given the opportunity, 92 per cent of Canadians would like to do something to help improve the world
• 86 per cent of Canadians are very or moderately optimistic that Canada has a positive future compared to other countries
• Money is the number one thing that holds people back from putting their ideas into action (31 per cent), followed by not knowing how to get started (27 per cent)
• 62 per cent of Canadians feel that Canada is definitely or probably a leader regarding creating change or making a positive difference in the world

On July 1, the Pepsi Refresh Project's two month voting period begins at www.refresheverything.ca, where 243 ideas for change have been put forward by Canadians who want to make this country even better. The ideas range from inspiring young Canadian women to "dare to be great", to creating a sensory garden for Canadians who are deaf or blind, to buying camera equipment to build a website to get local bands noticed.

Note to media:

• Names and contact information for the 243 Canadians who submitted their ideas can be found at: www.praxispr.ca/PepsiRefreshSubmissionsRoundOne.pdf
• For video clips of Canadians sharing their ideas for changing their community in a positive way, visit: http://smr.newswire.ca/en/pepsico-beverages-canada/pepsi-to-give-away-over-1-million-dollars-to-fund

About the Pepsi Refresh Project
In an effort to support those who generate innovative, optimistic ideas, the Pepsi Refresh Project (www.refresheverything.ca) will award more than $1 million in the year ahead to move communities forward. Starting on June 1, 2010, individuals and organizations were able to apply for grants to benefit a variety of projects, and site visitors can vote for the best ideas for funding when voting opens on July 1. The Pepsi Refresh Project is an evolution of the Joy It Forward initiative Pepsi launched in 2009, which showed the brand as an optimistic catalyst for idea creation. The Pepsi Refresh Project will fund projects that make a difference in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighbourhoods and Education.

About PepsiCo Canada
PepsiCo's businesses in Canada are organized into two business units. PepsiCo Foods Canada includes Frito Lay Canada and the Quaker Foods & Snacks business. PepsiCo Beverages Canada includes Tropicana, Gatorade and Pepsi businesses. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.ca.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that each generates more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses - Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade - also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in more than 200 countries. With annualized revenues of nearly $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. In recognition of its continued sustainability efforts, PepsiCo was named for the third time to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and for the fourth time to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) in 2009. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

For further information:

Media Contact:

Kelly Mansell
PraxisPR
[email protected]
905-949-8255, ext. 221