The first awards ceremony in 2023 will mark the beginning of a commitment by Coca-Cola Beverages Florida and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation to fund 250 scholarships over the next 10 years

TAMPA, Fla., June 6, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida), in partnership with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, will honor 25 recent Florida high school graduates with the inaugural Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship℠ during an awards ceremony scheduled for June 8.^thThe scholarships cover tuition and most fees to attend a university, college or vocational/technical school of their choice in Florida.

The Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship was launched in August 2023 as part of Coke Florida's commitment to education. The scholarship program provides prepaid scholarships to students who are often overlooked academically and may not have sufficient financial resources to finance a college education. With matching funds from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship represents a $2.8 million investment and will support 250 scholarships over ten years. This commitment also aligns with the Florida Chamber Foundation's Path to Prosperity initiative, a statewide initiative to address intergenerational poverty in underserved communities.

“Through our investment in the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship Program, Coke Florida continues to support educational opportunities in the communities we serve,” said Percy L. Wells II, group vice president of government relations, public affairs and communications for Coke Florida. “By supporting higher education, we aim to provide students with career opportunities that lead to long-term self-sufficiency. We are honored to partner with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation to fund higher education for this year's class of 25 Florida students. Congratulations to our first group of 'Refreshing Minds' Scholars. We wish them the best as they embark on the next phase of their educational journey.”

Scholars live in communities throughout Coke Florida's exclusive sales and distribution market, which includes the Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville metropolitan areas, and are active members of their local Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate or Boys & Girls Club.

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To support the young adults selected for the first class of Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholars, it is important to obtain further education and develop their interests and skills without financial burden.

“We congratulate these students and their families on their dedication and academic achievements to date,” said Cynthia O'Connell, director of the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Coke Florida and thank them for their generous contribution. Together, we have been able to provide these students with something extraordinary: a pathway to college.”

Coke Florida will host a scholarship award ceremony for the students and their families on Saturday, June 8^that Universal Orlando Resort.

For more information about the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship, visit cokefloridascholarship.com.

About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is the sixth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Coke Florida markets, sells, manufactures, distributes and markets The Coca-Cola Company products in an exclusive territory encompassing over 21 million consumers in 47 Florida counties, including the Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville metropolitan areas. The company employs over 5,000 people and has four GreenCircle-certified manufacturing facilities and eighteen sales and distribution centers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is one of the largest black-owned companies in the United States and is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). In 2024, Coke Florida was named a U.S. Best Managed Company for the third consecutive year by Deloitte-Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit cokeflorida.com.

© 2024 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. Refreshing Minds Scholarship is a service mark of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. The Caps and Gowns design is a trademark of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC. The Coca-Cola Contour Bottle is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.

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contacts

J. Katrinda McQueen, Vice President, Communications
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
813-557-9088 | [email protected]