Asahi Lifestyle Beverages is partnering with non-profit charity, The Smith Family, to support the education needs of disadvantaged young Australians.
The Smith Family’s Community Attitude Survey has found that over a quarter of Australian families cannot pay for, or are struggling to afford, school lunches and snacks for their children.
It also revealed around a third of families are having difficulty paying for school uniforms, shoes, school bags, school books and stationery, and almost half are having difficulty paying for extracurriculars, such as music lessons and sport.
Asahi Lifestyle Beverages has been partnering with The Smith Family through its fundraising campaign, The Big Giveback, for five years in 2024.
This year will see 10 cents donated to the charity from the sale of non-alcoholic drinks made by Asahi Lifestyle Beverages (Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Solo, Mountain Dew, Sunkist, Schweppes 7UP, Passiona, Gatorade, Lipton Iced Tea, Cool Ridge) during the month of August.
Around 5000 convenience stores, service stations, and major chains across Australia are participating, including Euro Garages, Hoyts, El Jannah, CIVEO, Endeavour Fuel, Lord of the Fries, and Wendy’s.
The Smith Family’s CEO Doug Taylor said the survey highlighted how families are being forced to make tough choices between household bills and their children’s education during the cost-of-living crisis.
“The fact that so many families are struggling to afford things as basic as school lunches or books shows just how deeply the cost-of-living crisis is affecting families across the country, particularly those families that were already experiencing disadvantage,” said Taylor.
“The results of the survey also highlight the broader impact that disadvantage can have on a child’s education. Young people experiencing disadvantage need our support now more than ever before, so they are able to catch up, keep up and make the most of their schooling.”
“We all want children to succeed at school and, together with the support of the generous community and our valued partners at Asahi Lifestyle Beverages, we can ensure that young people have access to essential learning support to help them thrive in their education and create brighter futures for themselves,” he said.
Money raised by The Big Giveback will help support students on The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. This provides them with access to vital learning and mentoring programs and helps their families meet the costs of school essentials such as uniforms, books, and other things they need for their education.
Asahi Lifestyle Beverages CEO, Nigel Parsons, said that through the campaign, customers’ small change can make a big change.
“This is a simple way for people to support Aussie kids who are doing it tough. By raising funds for Australian students who need extra support, The Smith Family can help children who need it the most,” said Parsons.
“We are proud to again be supporting our charity partner The Smith Family with this nationwide initiative.”
Australians can get behind The Big Giveback at participating stores, or by making a donation online at thebiggiveback.com.au.
