Harare, 13 October 2021. Today, Coca-Cola's Women's LINC Zimbabwe Chapter and Minerva officially handed over items worth over ZW$1,200,000 to furnish the Special Olympics Zimbabwe offices.
"For over 50 years, the Coca-Cola Company has led a true commitment to showcasing the unlimited potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and the power of sport to bring people together and transform lives," said Patricia Murambinda, Coca-Cola Women's Linc Zimbabwe Chapter President and General Manager, Corporate Affairs at Delta Corporation.
The donation is coming just two months after the Coca-Cola Women's Linc handed over a poultry project for Mutemwa Leprosy Centre in Mutoko District, Mashonaland East Province.
"This is a fulfilment of our burning desire as caring sisters, mothers and daughters to the community of intellectually disabled. We realised the Special Olympics Zimbabwe needed a project that can bring forth other developments," added Patricia.
'Thank you for becoming more aware of those in need. As a founding partner and global sponsor of Special Olympics, Coca-Cola has been at the forefront of the movement to celebrate the limitless potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and the power of sport to bring people together and, ultimately, transform lives. This longstanding partnership is grounded in the shared values of optimism, acceptance and inclusion, which Special Olympics and Coca-Cola have brought to communities across the globe over the last five decades," said Mr Clever Mugadza, SOZ Board Chairman.
The Women's LINC is a network of women employed in the Coca-Cola system focused on engaging, inspiring and developing them to drive total business performance and establish a strong reputation as a great place to work for women. In addition, the initiative empowers women so that they can also enable others and influence their environments. The Zimbabwe LINC chapter draws its membership from The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Beverages and Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited.
The Coca-Cola Women's LINC was established to enhance female colleagues' attraction, engagement, and development through opportunities such as industry panels, networking events, mentoring, and community engagement, which forms the heart and soul of our operations.
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About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, offering over 500 brands to people in more than 200 countries. Of our 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 are available in lower- or no-sugar options to help people moderate their consumption of added sugar. In addition to our namesake Coca-Cola drinks, some of our leading brands around the world include AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, SmartWater, Sprite, Vitaminwater, and Zico coconut water. At Coca-Cola, we're serious about making positive contributions to the world. That starts with reducing sugar in our drinks and continuing to introduce new ones with added benefits. It also means continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, creating rewarding careers for our associates and bringing economic opportunity wherever we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people around the world.
About Special Olympics Zimbabwe
Special Olympics is a global organisation that serves more than 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Since the establishment of the Special Olympics in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved with the organisation has been growing, but the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is staggering.
It's at the local level—right here—where interested volunteers meet the athletes. That's where the perceptions start to change and where the miracle of transformation takes place. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in various Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Those activities give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship.