Fallen Patriots Receives $1 Million Donation During Army vs Navy Game

Donation from PepsiCo and Johnny Mac Soldier Fund Provides 160 Years of College Education for Gold Star Scholars

Fallen Patriots Receives $1 Million Donation During Army vs Navy Game. Donation from PepsiCo and Johnny Mac Soldier Fund Provides 160 Years of College Education for Gold Star Scholars

Philadelphia, PA – The rivalry between Army Black Nights and Navy Midshipmen goes back more than 100 years, but during halftime on Saturday, December 8, players and fans from both sides were on the same team.  The stadium at Lincoln Financial Field roared with excitement when PepsiCo and Johnny Mac Solider Fund presented Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (Fallen Patriots) with a $1,000,000 check.  The vision of Fallen Patriots is to extend peace of mind to Gold Star families in all 50 states, in all branches of the military and these funds will help provide over 160 years of debt free education to them.

Kami Kennedy and her two children, Maggie and Brody, are among the surviving military families Fallen Patriots aims to serve. “To stand on the field during halftime at the biggest game of the year is something we will never forget,” Kami said. “It was both energizing and emotional to feel the support of the crowd. We are so honored to have been there,” she added.  Kami was married almost four years when her husband, Major Thomas Kennedy, was killed in action in Afghanistan.  Both kids take after their Dad through a shared love of sports.  Kami says she is comforted by Fallen Patriots, knowing the college education of each child will be taken care of. 

PepsiCo and Johnny Mac Soldier Fund’s generous contributions will directly help fulfill Fallen Patriots’ mission to provide college scholarships and educational counseling for military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

Earlier this year, PepsiCo’s annual “Rolling Remembrance” fundraising campaign – a 7,000-mile relay that transports an American flag, originally flown on a UH-60M Blackhawk Helicopter in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom 2012, from coast to coast in the United States – raised more than $250,000 to support Fallen Patriots, which was then matched by the PepsiCo Foundation. Contributions from partners including 7-Eleven, the Army & Airforce Exchange Service, Foodland and Stater Bros. were made in the form of cash donations, in-kind donations and in-store customer promotions.  

 “PepsiCo is proud to recognize the sacrifices of veterans and their families by helping ensure a bright future for the children left behind,” said Jim Farrell, PepsiCo Vice President of Logistics, Distribution and Transportation.  Farrell served five years in the U.S. Army which inspired his involvement as a member of the Fallen Patriots board.

Since 2014, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund has contributed over $6,000,000 to Children of Fallen Patriots for college scholarships for children of the fallen.  "We are pleased to partner with Fallen Patriots to honor military service and sacrifice by providing college scholarships to children of our nation's fallen," said MaryEllen Picciuto, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund President.  A West Point graduate and Army veteran, Ms. Picciuto continued, "It is especially gratifying to see PepsiCo match our gift to further impact military families." 

About Fallen Patriots

Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation honors the sacrifices of our fallen military heroes by ensuring the success of their children through college education.  Since 2002, Fallen Patriots has provided approximately $26 million in total assistance, including college scholarships and educational counseling to over 1,250 military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.  Nearly 20,000 children from across America will need future assistance.  Help today by visiting www.fallenpatriots.org.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2017, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

About Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund

Established in 2014, the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring military service and sacrifice by providing college scholarships to veterans and military family members, particularly children of our nation’s fallen and disabled. The fund is inspired by Colonel John “Johnny Mac” McHugh, KIA in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 18, 2010. To date, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund has awarded $12 million in college scholarships and education programs, funding over 1,000 students and growing. To learn more or to support the mission of Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, visit www.JohnnyMac.org