January 15, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
The Pepsi Bottling Group is putting its cellphones to work to help recover missing children.
The Somers, N.Y., corporation enrolled more than 27,000 company-owned cellphones in the Wireless Amber Alert program, which sends text messages to participants when a child is abducted in their area. The messages include a description of the child, the suspected kidnapper, and any vehicles involved in the abduction. The program is run by the Wireless Foundation and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
The idea to sign up the company’s phones came from Eric Gage, a longtime employee who works in the Austin, Tex., office. He says the project is a good fit, given the number of delivery and salespeople who spend their days driving from place to place.
“We can become the eyes and ears on the street and in the stores,” says Mr. Gage.
Paula Davis, who heads the company’s foundation, says companies need to think creatively in tough times.
“While they may not be able to contribute as much with a straight donation, the assets they can offer can sometimes even eclipse what a financial donation can do,” she says.
For more information about the program: Go to http://www.wirelessamber alerts.org.
