The beverage industry in Wisconsin supports the communities where we operate by promoting healthy & active living and environmental sustainability and by contributing to many other charitable causes across the state. Check out a few of the beverage industry’s latest community initiatives:

The GB Parks Rx program in Green Bay was launched in 2015 with a $25,000 grant from the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA), the Wisconsin Beverage Association (WBA), and Green Bay area bottlers. Beverage companies have made an additional $40,000 contribution to the initiative. Parks Prescription is a concept that links the healthcare system and public lands, such as local parks, to create healthier people and lifestyles through increased connections to parks and recreation. The project is a collaborative effort between local bottlers, the WBA, Prevea Health, The City of Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department and Live54218.

The ABFHA and Madison area bottlers donated $18,000 in 2014 to the Goodman Community Center in Madison to support expansion of its successful Seed to Table program. More than 250 middle school youth and their families gained access to hands-on programming in the areas of Urban Agriculture, Culinary Arts, Food Processing and Health and Fitness.

The Healthy America Family Challenge at the Green Bay Boys & Girls Club was launched in 2013 with a $10,000 grant from ABFHA and Green Bay area bottlers.

In 2012, the WBA partnered with the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsin to develop a 12-week summer youth program. Funded with a $30,000 grant from Milwaukee area bottlers and the ABFHA, “Grow Your Future” helped participating youth learn the value of nutrition and physical activity and develop business skills that they can apply in their own lives.

The WBA joined with the Department of Natural Resources and the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin in 2013 to launch a Public Space Recycling Pilot in an effort to increase public space recycling of plastic containers. Through the efforts of bottlers, 55-gallon plastic syrup barrels used by companies were repurposed into outdoor recycling receptacles for away-from-home locations where plastic beverage bottles are currently not likely to be recovered. A successful pilot was carried out during the summer and fall of 2014: 340 recycling barrels were distributed to five special event county fairgrounds and five schools.