Dr Pepper Snapple Group Teams Up With Boys & Girls Clubs Of America To Support Young Alumni Through New Program Engaging Graduating Teens

PLANO, Texas, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Pepper Snapple Group DPS announced today a national sponsorship of Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) Alumni & Friends Club. As the centerpiece of its three-year, $1 million sponsorship, DPS is helping BGCA launch a new "Stay Connected" campaign to engage and support new Club alumni who have recently graduated from high school.

Through the "Stay Connected" campaign, BGCA will aim to register graduating seniors as alumni, promote readiness for college and careers by providing online tools, tips and resources, and connect them to a global network of passionate and dedicated alumni who can provide valuable guidance and mentorship.

"More than half of Boys & Girls Club alumni say the Club saved their life, so we are focused on ensuring we keep the connection strong or reconnect with the nearly 16 million Club alumni that include some of our organization's best advocates and supporters," said Jim Clark, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Thanks to the ongoing support of Dr Pepper Snapple, we can now engage our young alumni through 'Stay Connected.' With 45,000 teens graduating each year from high school who are connected to a local Club, we want to maintain and engage these relationships through new opportunities over the next few years like scholarships, career development and mentorship programs."

Dr Pepper Snapple has been a longtime sponsor of BGCA's Southwest Youth of the Year event. In addition, through its Let's Play initiative, Dr Pepper Snapple has built playgrounds and awarded equipment grants for numerous Boys & Girls Club facilities across the country.

"Graduation means stepping into a larger world of greater responsibilities and challenges, whether you're going into college or headed right into a career. That can be a pretty daunting feeling," said Vicki Draughn, vice president of corporate affairs for Dr Pepper Snapple. "But if you're a graduating Club teen, this campaign will help connect you to a large and growing network of alumni with a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. The opportunities available through the Alumni & Friends network will keep you engaged and involved into adulthood."

BGCA's aim is for the Alumni & Friends Club to be a network of youth advocates and Club supporters committed to giving back and helping Clubs serve more members, more often, to increase the impact on kids who need the Club's support and guidance the most.

About Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Dr Pepper Snapple Group DPS is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have six of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose's, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has changed and saved lives, enabling young people to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve some 4 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in neighborhoods throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing a wide variety of youth development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

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SOURCE Dr Pepper Snapple Group