Coca-Cola & ASU Announce Historic Agreement

Coca-Cola United Agreement with ASU Refreshes Students and Campus Alike! 

By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU 

Alabama State University and Montgomery Coca-Cola Bottling Company United (Coca-Cola) announced on Monday (Aug. 14) an historic agreement that includes a $200,000 donation to support student success. Joining President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. in making the announcement were Ms. Beryl Jackson, Coca-Cola's on-premise sales manager, and Col. (retired) Gregory Clark, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation. 

"Today, we are making history, as Coca-Cola United has come together with ASU to promote student success by donating to us a check for $200,000 that will aid student scholarships, as well as also giving to the University a list of items that will do such things as enhance our campus’s appearance and environment, help student-athletes, assist the Mighty Marching Hornets Band, and generally lift up our student body," said Clark, speaking before the assembled group. "This is a great partnership for both parties, and we look forward to working with them." 

ASU's chief executive officer stated that the five-year contract represents collaborative work between his leadership team and Coca-Cola officials. 

"It is truly a great time to be an ASU Hornet," Ross said. "I want to thank our friends with Coca-Cola United who are standing with us and investing in our most precious resource, our students. We are thankful for their leadership and how we are both working under the umbrella of CommUniversity to make this project happen." 

ASU BENEFITS FROM COCA-COLA'S LARGESSE 

In addition to the $200,000 commitment that benefits student scholarships that promote dual enrollment programs, the University will receive a list of additional resources from Coca-Cola: 

* A recycling program that helps ASU recycle reusable items that currently go to the landfill. 

*An Athletic Department workout facility with state-of-the-art exercise equipment. 

* An 18-wheel trailer for the Mighty Marching Hornets Band to move their instruments to and from various venues. The trailer will be branded with bold graphics, becoming a rolling billboard for ASU. 

COCA-COLA PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ASU 

Jackson, who represented the soft drink magnate at the announcement, stated she was delighted to continue the company’s longstanding association with "O' Mother Dear." 

"We are glad to continue a partnership with the University that has been around well over 40 years now," Jackson said. "This is much more to us than getting students to simply use our products. To Montgomery's Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, it is helping to continue and advance so many things, both old and new, that help our ASU students excel and succeed." 

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104. 

###ASU###