The Coca-Cola Company and The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana Sign Exclusive Calle Ocho Festival Beverage Agreement

The Coca-Cola Company and The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana have been partners for nearly four decades. As an evolution of its community partnership, Coca-Cola, South Florida’s favorite non-alcoholic beverage, will become the official soft drink of “El Festival de la Calle Ocho” (Calle Ocho). This exclusivity agreement ensures that more than one million festivalgoers can quench their thirst with their beverages including Diet Coke®, Coca-Cola Zero™, Sprite®, Fanta®, POWERADE® and Dasani® Water.

“For 37 years we have worked together for the betterment of the Little Havana community,” said Melanie Jones, General Manager, Coca-Cola Refreshments South Florida. This expansion of our association stems from our shared commitment and desire to build a healthy, sustainable and prosperous community while celebrating the cultural heritage of South Florida.”

The exclusivity agreement runs through 2017.

“We are excited about our partnership with Coca-Cola and their continued commitment to help our organization further its mission of changing the lives of more than 10,000 underprivileged children and families each year,” said Tony Lorenzo, President of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana. “Funds raised from Calle Ocho, and the various events of Carnaval Miami, allow us to develop projects and programs that benefit kids from infancy until college graduation, including holiday giving initiatives, Back-To-School programs, higher education scholarship grants and so much more.”

Since 1978 Coca-Cola has been a community-partner of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana; the organizer of Carnaval Miami. The month-long celebration features an art and jazz festival, culinary competitions, 5K run/walk, soccer tournament, scholarship pageant and the Calle Ocho Festival.

Throughout its history as a Calle Ocho sponsor, Coca-Cola has showcased world-renowned musicians and bands on the Coca-Cola Music Stage. This year the brand will offer its stage to some of South Florida’s most talented music artists through the Coca-Cola’s “Share The Stage” music contest. This program gives local, up-and-coming bands the chance to perform live on the Coca-Cola Music Stage during the Calle Ocho Festival.

To enter, band members must be 18 years or older at the time entry. They must complete the online registration and submit an online link to an original performance by February 16. Four bands will be selected to perform live on Sunday, March 15, on the Coca-Cola Music Stage at Calle Ocho. In addition to the four winners, Sensato de Patio and Maffio will headline this year’s performances. More information about the program is available at www.cocacolasharethestage.com. Participants are encouraged to use #ShareTheStage to spread the word about the contest and encourage their fans to come see them perform.

Diet Coke and POWERADE will also help enhance Carnaval Miami activities. Diet Coke will return as a sponsor of the 33^rd Annual Miss Carnaval Miami 2015 pageant. The Miss Carnaval Miami pageant celebrates South Florida’s most talented, brightest and beautiful young Hispanic women. Participants will compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. This event will be held on Saturday, February 7 at the Manuel Artime Theater.

POWERADE, the sports drink that helps athletes of all ages power through the most difficult challenges, is the official hydration partner of Carnaval Miami’s 5 vs 5 Youth Soccer Tournament. This family-friendly event promotes healthy active living, proper nutrition and sportsmanship. More than 100 boys’ and girls’ soccer teams between ages U9 and U14 are expected to participate. The tournament will take place on Saturday, April 4 at the Kendall Soccer Park.

“Coca-Cola is committed to providing South Florida fans with relevant experiences and programs that support their passion,” said Jones. “Coca-Cola’s Share The Stage, Miss Carnaval Miami and the youth soccer tournament are great examples of how Coca-Cola is part of occasions where people gather to celebrate and have fun.”

About The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana

The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana is an affiliate of Kiwanis International, a worldwide organization of volunteers dedicated to serving children in their communities. Formed in 1975, it is the oldest Latin, continuous-meeting club in the United States and is committed to making a difference in the lives of thousands of South Florida families annually through service projects and fundraising initiatives. Club members volunteer thousands of hours each year to strengthen their community through yearly activities, including holiday giving, scholarship grants, Back-To-School programs and the internationally recognized Calle Ocho Festival, including the various events of Carnaval Miami. For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, please visit www.kiwanislittlehavana.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company’s portfolio features 17 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.