The PepsiCo Foundation donated $25,000 to the Tryon Palace Foundation this week to help support interactive learning opportunities for children visiting the Pepsi Family Center, located inside Tryon Palace’s North Carolina History Center.
The PepsiCo Foundation’s gift to the Tryon Palace Foundation will be used exclusively for technology and software upgrades in the Pepsi Family Center, which opened to the public in 2010. Located inside the North Carolina History Center in downtown New Bern, the Pepsi Family Center transports visitors back to 1835 for an interactive virtual experience that includes sailing a ship on the high seas, distilling turpentine, joining an electronic quilting bee and assisting the cook as she prepares recipes in a 19th-century kitchen.
“The center is an invaluable resource for our community, particularly young people interested in learning about our state’s rich heritage, and these upgrades will help modernize the exhibit and further enhance the visitor experience,” said Darren Clark, PepsiCo senior director of government affairs and board member of the Tryon Palace Commission.
The PepsiCo Foundation is also donating $25,000 to the Greenville/New Bern Branch of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The funds will support the Kids Summer Meals program, which ensures that children living in low-income areas continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast.
“These are two great causes that we are proud to support,” added Clark. “PepsiCo, the PepsiCo Foundation and Minges Bottling Group share a deep commitment to this community.”
For additional information place call Tryon Palace Marketing and Communications Manager Craig Ramey at 252-639-3511 or by email at craig.ramey@ncdcr.gov.