Bottler pops top on $100,000

The company gave away $100,000 – symbolic of its 100th anniversary – to 17 charities Nov. 17 at Scallions restaurant on the campus of Ozarks Technical Community College.

“Sounds like a lottery, doesn’t it?” said Sally Hargis, Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper vice president of corporate strategy.

The beverage bottling company gave between $2,500 and $10,000 to nonprofit organizations picked by an internal committee.

Hargis said the cash giveaway was “unprecedented” for the bottler, which usually contributes in the form of event sponsorships or free beverages.

“We wanted to make it something that would really captivate the attention of Ozarkers and cause them to say, ‘Wow, that was really nice,’” she said.

Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper got the desired reaction from Lorianne Dunn, education director of Springfield Little Theatre. Her group received $5,000 from the company.

“They chose organizations that they felt … made a real positive impact in our community,” Dunn said. “We feel really lucky and are very grateful to be chosen as one of those by Coke.”

Dunn said the money would be used to buy supplies and fund the theater’s education program, which awards scholarships to kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to study acting, voice, musical theater or dance.

A yearlong celebration

Dunn’s Little Theatre mates helped Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper kick off its centennial celebration by performing historical vignettes at the Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper employee party May 15.

An employee party was the first of several anniversary events in 2005.

“The way we approached the year,” Hargis said, “was with the desire to have everyone in the Ozarks Coca-Cola Bottling Co. territory know that it was our centennial.”

Bass Pro’s White River Room hosted more than 320 employees from the bottler’s region, which includes plants in Bolivar, Lebanon and Rolla.

“We really had a spectacular party that afternoon,” Hargis said.

On June 24, Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper gave away 10,000 baseball caps at the Springfield Cardinals game. Hargis said Mayor Tom Carlson declared that day Coca-Cola Day and that the company released 5,000 balloons.

In July, the bottler hosted an exhibit at the Ozark Empire Fair’s E*Plex. Fair goers had the opportunity to learn about both the Coca-Cola Co. and the local bottler.

On Aug. 11, Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper hosted 400 Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce members at its plant.

Finally came the big giveaway.

Dickerson Park Zoo Superintendent Mike Crocker said Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper gave the zoo $5,000 that will help fund special events such as its annual Halloween Spooktacular.

“They’ve been supporters of our activities for a long time,” Crocker said.

The other recipients were Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield; Springfield Family YMCA; Bolivar Family YMCA; Lost and Found; OTC; Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ozarks; Discovery Center of Springfield; Developmental Center of the Ozarks; Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ozarks; Boys and Girls Town of Missouri; Springfield Ballet; Gillioz Theatre; St. John’s Heritage Foundation; Lebanon Area Foundation; Project Cope; and Genesis: A Place of New Beginnings. Hargis declined to say how much each organization received.

“It was an exhilarating way to end our centennial celebration,” Hargis said.