Coca-Cola, Portland Timbers donate $50,000 to Safe Routes program

Representatives from Coca-Cola join City Commissioner Randy Leonard, PBOT Director Tom Miller, Portland Safe Routes to School manager Gabe Graff and students from Beach and Sabin schools at halftime of the Timbers game.
(Photo: John Q. Porter/JQP Design)

Coca-Cola Refreshments and the Portland Timbers Major League Soccer team have awarded $50,000 to the City of Portland’s Safe Routes to School program.

“The donation is a part of continued efforts by Coca-Cola and the Portland Timbers to promote a cleaner environment and encourage kids in our communities to become more active,” read a PBOT statement.

At last night’s Timbers match against Argentina’s Independiente, local kids from the Safe Routes program rode to Jeld-Wen Field and took part in a special halftime ceremony. The Timbers mascot joined the students and representatives from Coca-Cola to present the check to Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard and PBOT Director Tom Miller.

Coca-Cola is the largest beverage company in the world and their portfolio of drink brands accounts for 1.7 billion servings every day.

“At Coca-Cola, we believe in supporting positive youth development and encouraging active, healthy lifestyles,” said Noel Coulson, Wilsonville Distribution Center manager. “We are proud to partner with the Portland Timbers to support Safe Routes to School to get kids walking, biking and improving their communities.”

The $50,000 will go toward ongoing support of Safe Routes to School programs in more than 80 Portland elementary schools. The program is expected to reach 50,000 students this coming year.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Michweek
Michweek
12 years ago

You know what Coca-Cola could do to make a real impact? Not use corn-syrup, advertise as much and maybe even go fair-trade/organic. *gasp* It’d still be a super surgery drink and refreshing.

davemess
davemess
12 years ago

I was at the game last night. They really have a lot of bike racks set up. Good for you the Timbers!!!

The check presentation did deprive us of seeing little kids play soccer during the half though. But also a good donation.

k-dub
k-dub
12 years ago
Reply to  davemess

They have the kids play before the match this year since people (Timbers Army, like me, anyway) have to get there so much earlier than in years past. There was indeed a soccer match before the real game.

peejay
peejay
12 years ago

Kind of like when KFC had a promotion that donated money to the American Diabetes Association for every super- mega-sixed carbonated beverage sold. Somebody worked out that there are 59 teaspoons of sugar in each cup.

deborah
deborah
12 years ago

Nice job Timbers and Coke!

Fourknees
Fourknees
12 years ago

Coke plus aluminum foil is a great way to remove rust from steel bike rims, handlebars, etc.

BURR
BURR
12 years ago

A poisonous soft drink and a freeloading Paulson, yeesh.

k-dub
k-dub
12 years ago
Reply to  BURR

Freeloading?

BURR
BURR
12 years ago
Reply to  k-dub

The city paid $31 million for the timbers stadium renovation and Paulson didn’t pay off the city’s debt on the previous renovation when he took over the stadium either.

k-dub
k-dub
12 years ago
Reply to  BURR

That’s about as factually accurate as the argument that bicyclists don’t pay their fair share for road maintenance.

BURR
BURR
12 years ago
Reply to  k-dub

so what’s your understanding of the city’s contribution to Paulson’s enterprise? Just ’cause the Timbers are popular doesn’t mean he should get a pass on dipping into public funds to bring the team to Portland and renovate the stadium; in fact, it should be just the opposite – if the team is popular enough to be profitable, tax dollars shouldn’t be necessary to support them.

drew
drew
12 years ago
Reply to  BURR

wrong on both accounts.

dwainedibbly
dwainedibbly
12 years ago

Nice to see a non-cycling corporation doing something positive for cycling. It would be nice to at least see Coke offer a “real sugar” version that doesn’t require importation from Mexico, like Pepsi does with Pepsi Throwback. But yeah, cutting the sugar & artificial sweeteners out completely is a better solution (pun intended!) ultimately.