Young Chicago Resident Tackles Job Creation with $30,000 Grant

Rosemont, Illinois – Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling, a Reyes Holdings, L.L.C. company, announced that Isabel Raymundo, 23, a student at the Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) is the change maker whose idea for addressing job creation on Chicago’s South Side will be brought to life through the Dear Future Chicago challenge. Raymundo will work closely with Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling, Illinois Tech and local Coca-Cola Scholars to implement her community-changing idea. The idea was selected among nearly 1,000 submitted by young adults from all over the country.

Raymundo will tackle joblessness by creating a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program. Individuals working in STEM fields will volunteer as role models, introducing elementary and middle school students on Chicago’s South Side to important STEM skills and job prospects. Raymundo’s idea was inspired by her middle school science teacher who taught her that science could be fun for all children, regardless of background or gender. That experience inspired Raymundo to pursue degrees in computer science and software engineering, as well as a minor in astrophysics at Illinois Tech.

“We need fresh thinking if we are going to solve a complex issue like job creation,” said Clare Galvão, Commercial Director at Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling. “We are proud to empower emerging community leaders like Isabel who are helping to improve Chicago for the future.”

Illinois Tech, who will administer the grant, will work side-by-side with her to bring her idea to life. Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling selected Illinois Tech as the community partner because of its Chicago roots, as well as the number of STEM experts who will educate the next generation of STEM leaders.

“We are proud of Isabel and excited to partner with her to implement her community-changing idea,” said Peter Kilpatrick, Illinois Tech Provost. “Tackling joblessness and poverty is core to our mission, which we are relying on our graduates to advance for future generations.”

The Dear Future Challenge is inspired by the 30th anniversary of The Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which has helped to transform the lives of more than 6,000 community-minded individuals across the country through college scholarships that recognize both academic achievement and civic-mindedness. The Coca-Cola Company is celebrating their legacy by inviting the next generation of leaders to renew their communities.

Details on participating communities, their unique challenges and a list of change makers across the country can be found at Coca-Cola Renew.

About Reyes Holdings, L.L.C.

Reyes Holdings, aligned with leading beverage and foodservice providers, produces and delivers some of the best-known brands and widest variety of food and beverage items to retailers around the world. Annually, the company delivers more than 1.3 billion cases of beverage and food products from over 170 locations across the world. Reyes Holdings operations include Reyes Beer Division, the largest beer distributor in the United States representing import, craft and domestic beer brands; The Martin-Brower Company, L.L.C., a global quick-service restaurant distribution business and the largest supplier worldwide of distribution services to the McDonald’s restaurant system; Reinhart Foodservice, L.L.C., one of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the United States; Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling, a dedicated Coca-Cola bottler and distributor serving Chicagoland and the Midwest; and Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, a West Coast bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola products. Reyes Holdings is the 9th largest privately held company in the United States with more than 33,000 employees and annual sales exceeding $33 billion. For more information about Reyes Holdings, visit the company website at www.reyesholdings.com.

About Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling

Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling is a bottler and distributor of refreshing Coca-Cola sparkling and still brands. We service stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, offices, and college campuses throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Reyes Holdings, L.L.C., we are dedicated to adding value to the Coca-Cola supply chain, providing the best, most-reliable service to our customers and contributing to our community while creating an outstanding work environment for our employees. For more information, visit www.greatlakescocacola.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to the company’s Coca-Cola brands, our portfolio includes some of theworld’s most valuable beverage brands, such as AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Costa coffee, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, innocent smoothies and juices, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater and ZICO coconut water. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.