10.18.2006 - 10:10am ET

(CSRwire) STAMFORD, Conn.- Keep America Beautiful, Inc., the nation's largest nonprofit community improvement organization, awarded PepsiCo, Inc. its 2006 Vision for America Award at a gala dinner in New York City Tuesday. Steven S Reinemund, chairman of PepsiCo, Inc., accepted the award on behalf of PepsiCo's more than 150,000 employees worldwide.

Keep America Beautiful recognized PepsiCo - one of the largest food and beverage company in the world - for its leadership role in preserving the environment through many diverse conservation and educational efforts. The Vision for America Award is presented annually to distinguished leaders of honored corporations, whose personal and corporate commitment have significantly enhanced civic, environmental and social stewardship throughout the United States. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Commissioner John J. Doherty of the New York City Department of Sanitation joined Keep America Beautiful in recognizing PepsiCo and Reinemund for this honor.

"A corporate sustainability program of the breadth, depth and complexity as the one undertaken by PepsiCo doesn't happen without a leader with great vision," said Keep America Beautiful President G. Raymond Empson. "PepsiCo's success is evidence that Steve Reinemund's vision has permeated all areas of PepsiCo's operations."

"Just like Anheuser-Busch Companies, PepsiCo recognizes that its environmental practices add to long-term customer and shareholder value," said August A. Busch III, chairman of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. and Vision for America Award dinner chairman. "PepsiCo has demonstrated remarkable creativity and innovation in achieving significant environmental achievements in all of its business units."

"Our customers and consumers increasingly want products and packaging that are environmentally sound, and we're working hard to meet those demands" said Reinemund, who will serve as Chairman until May, 2007. "PepsiCo embraces sustainability and this award recognizes the excellent work that PepsiCo associates all over the world have been doing."

PepsiCo's sustainability vision to make "Tomorrow Better Than Today" encompasses all aspects of its operations by encouraging conservation, recycling and energy use programs that promote clean air and water, and reduce landfill waste.

An active supporter of Keep America Beautiful programs since the 1960s, PepsiCo and its bottling partners have participated in and supported a wide range of initiatives at both the national and local affiliate level. Its Pepsi-Cola North America division is a charter sponsor of Keep America Beautiful's signature event, the Great American Cleanup™.

Pepsi-Cola has been a strong supporter of Keep America Beautiful classroom education. With funds from a Pepsi-Cola grant, Keep America Beautiful developed a highly successful educational poster, titled "236 Million Tons of Trash," that shows students how communities manage their municipal solid waste. Reducing solid waste is just one of the many environmental issues that Keep America Beautiful has addressed through the partnership and support of PepsiCo.

Recently, Pepsi-Cola North America's Aquafina water brand teamed up with KAB and SAM'S CLUB® to "Return the Warmth" to local communities through a large-scale recycling program. More than 37 million plastic beverage bottles have been collected throughout the country during KAB's Great American Cleanup in the program's first year. "Return the Warmth" promotes recycling, and "completes the loop" by turning recycled PET materials into fleece jackets which are provided to needy children.

About PepsiCo, Inc.

PepsiCo is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, with 2005 annual revenues of more than $32 billion. Its principal businesses include Frito-Lay snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods. Its portfolio includes 17 brands that generate $1 billion or more each in annual retail sales.

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of nearly 1,000 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. To learn more about Keep America Beautiful and its Vision for America Award, please go to www.kab.org.

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