PLANO, Texas, July 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- From throwing
birthday parties for children in need to surprising hospital
patients with a furry friend to rehabilitating injured veterans, 31
everyday people are being invited into millions of homes this
summer to share their stories – and spread smiles – thanks to
Lay's, America's favorite potato chip brand. With the launch of its
"Smiles" campaign, Lay's is unveiling 31 inspiring stories across a
variety of flavors and varieties – including Traditional, Wavy,
Lightly Salted, Poppables, and Kettle Cooked – all featuring the
faces of "Everyday Smilers" who are making an impact in their local
communities and beyond.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8571751-lays-operation-smile-everyday-smilers/
The program, which benefits international medical charity,
Operation Smile, with a donation of up to $1
million in proceeds, kicks off in New York City today with dancer, actor, singer
and smiles enthusiast Derek Hough,
who is inviting fans to visit the first-ever Lay's Smiles Station
in Times Square, where visitors can take home their own
limited-edition Lay's Smiles bags and experience firsthand the
magnetic power of sharing a smile. The Lay's Smiles Station will
also pop up near Bryant Park on Wednesday,
July 24, open to the public from 10
a.m. – 7 p.m. on both
days.
"Kudos to Lay's for recognizing that it's the simple things in
life that hold the most value. Sharing a smile with a friend is
often just what you need as your own pick-me-up – and everyone, no
matter who you are, can appreciate that unexpected bright spot in
your day," said Hough. "I'm honored to join Lay's as they spread
smiles on a global scale with Operation Smile, and then also at a
community level with the Everyday Smilers who remind us that
gestures big and small can create joy."
Last year, Lay's debuted similar "Smiles" packaging in
conjunction with a $1 million
commitment to Operation Smile, which surpassed expectations with
customer feedback and social engagement to prompt the campaign's
return in 2019 – this year with the addition of real people on the
selfie-inspiring bags.
"The simple act of everyday smilers sharing their stories can
have a big impact on our work to help children around the world,"
said Kristie Magee Porcaro, senior
vice president of global philanthropy for Operation Smile. "We are
grateful that Lay's has launched its 'Smiles' campaign for a second
year, recognizing the power that a single storyteller has to
inspire others and help change the world."
"We know the world today needs more joy and we take a lot of
pride in the joy that comes from simply opening a bag of Lay's –
and just like that bag draws you in, so does sharing a smile." said
Sadira Furlow, vice president of
marketing, Frito-Lay North America.
"Last year, our fans shared an average of 700 selfies per day with
the 'Smiles' bags, revealing a tremendous opportunity for our bags
to transform into storytellers, inspiring even more smiles with the
great work of Operation Smile and ordinary people doing
extraordinary things in their communities. Our hope is that with
every smile we encourage, another one follows, and so on – with
those seemingly little moments of joy and connection adding up to
make a big difference."
Fans can learn more about the 31 Everyday Smilers featured on
the Lay's Smiles bags through a mobile video campaign with NowThis,
produced in partnership with Group Nine's Brandshop and Facebook.
Consumers can also learn more about the Everyday Smilers through an
augmented reality experience powered by the Facebook Camera and
triggered by scanning a unique QR code on the back of each Smiles
bag. The inspiring Everyday Smilers' stories include:
- Akio O., Chicago, IL:
Akio is a tech worker dedicated to making others feel special
through the "analog technology" of handwritten notes.
- Alex P., Galloway, OH:
Alex writes encouraging postcards to surprise and spread joy to
people in his community.
- Ashley C., Fort Worth,
TX: Ashley founded Sparkle Mental Health Connection, an
organization dedicated to sharing challenges, raising awareness,
and educating the community about mental health.
- Austin M., Plano,
TX: Austin is the
founder of an apparel and lifestyle brand called PURPOSEFULL that
releases videos with each new design to help others live their
lives with purpose.
- Chadleen L., Corona,
CA: Chadleen was born with a cleft palate and she
received a surgery from Operation Smile at the age of four. Now,
Chadleen's singing brings smiles to the faces of many.
- Christine A., Dallas,
TX: Christine created
Ark of the Rainbow, which focuses on providing education and life
skills to families in India.
- Collette D., Boston,
MA: Equipped with a big dream and an even bigger
personality, Collette started her business, Collettey's Cookies, to
sell delicious treats while also helping people with disabilities
like herself find work.
- David V., Lewisville,
TX: David is a former professional football player who
helps rehabilitate and train injured veterans and adaptive athletes
through his nonprofit, Adaptive Training Foundation.
- Derek P., Dallas, TX: As a personal trainer, Derek
runs fitness classes and camps. Through his fundraising, Derek
gives back by using his smile to give underprivileged kids a reason
to smile too.
- Dr. Chris E., Chesterfield,
MO: Dr. Chris is a fun-loving anesthesiologist whose
incredible work with Operation Smile has created more than 600
beautiful new smiles around the world.
- Dr. Shalin P., Frisco,
TX: Dr. Shalin is a dentist who supports his practice in
volunteer efforts to provide free dental screenings for hundreds of
elementary school students.
- Dr. Shelly B., Phoenix,
AZ: Dr. Shelly is a pediatrician who believes everyone
deserves to smile. That's why she volunteers her specialized skills
to Operation Smile by helping thankful children all over the world
get the medical care they need
- Elizabeth B., Dallas,
TX: Elizabeth is a NICU nurse with a positive
personality that lifts the spirits of those around her. She writes
inspiring quotes on the hospital gowns of her colleagues to keep
them smiling throughout the day.
- Eric P., Chicago, IL:
Eric provides sneakers for kids who can't afford them by creating
and selling artwork that combines his passions for sneakers and
comic books.
- Houston K., Venice,
CA: Houston is the
passionate co-founder of CharacterStrong – an organization that
helps communities and schools put kindness into action through a
variety of fun educational resources.
- Hugh H., Los Angeles,
CA: Hugh provides jobs to women transitioning out of
homelessness through his nonprofit, Residency Apparel. These jobs
help equip them with the skills they need to become self-sufficient
and secure a brighter future.
- Kam P., Fort Worth, TX:
Kam's organization, Dream Outside the Box, ignites dreams and
brighter futures by sending free career exploration boxes to
children all around the world.
- Katie L., Chicago,
IL: Katie started Kitchen Possible to empower kids to
make amazing things happen in their lives by showing them how to
make amazing things happen in the kitchen.
- Kim S., Costa Mesa, CA:
Kim created an annual bandage drive to collect bright and colorful
bandages for pediatric cancer patients. The bandages are donated
from all over the world.
- Lael M., Plano, TX:
Lael and her family created The Melville Family Foundation in order
to bring smiles to disadvantaged youth by focusing on education and
mentorship.
- Lauren L., Chicago, IL:
Lauren lends her helping hands to doctors on mission trips. She
keeps kids happy and comfortable while they receive important
medical assistance.
- Lawrence M., Plano, TX:
Lawrence has made it his lifelong mission to mentor kids from
disadvantaged families – steering them away from crime and toward
programs that build strong character.
- Mary-Ellen G., Dallas, TX: Once a week, Mary-Ellen and
her dog, Tucker, visit children in the hospital to lift their
spirits. Tucker's presence helps bring some joy to these young
patients.
- Matt P., Dallas, TX: Matt, like most guys, smiles
when he makes his girlfriend smile. So, he got his dogs certified
as therapy pets to raise her spirits as she fights against Crohn's
disease.
- Nicholas K., Novi, MI:
Nicholas is the founder of Fleece & Thank You, an organization
that comforts children in hospitals by gifting them with colorful
handmade blankets.
- Paige C., Dallas,
TX: Paige believes
birthday parties show kids that they matter. That's why she helped
create The Birthday Party Project that spreads smiles by throwing
birthday parties – cake, decorations, presents and all – for
children living in shelters and transitional environments.
- Queyoun M., Arlington,
TX: You'll find Queyoun's smile lighting up the
classroom and the basketball court. As a volunteer and teacher,
Queyoun's smile has been working overtime for a lifetime.
- Robin J., Oakland, CA:
Robin is an award-winning advocate for minority women in business.
Her work helps women acquire the skills they need to succeed in the
workplace.
- Shane M., Lake Stevens,
WA: Shane, along with his sons, chops and delivers
truckloads of firewood to those in need during the cold winter
months.
- Shawn W., Atlanta,
GA: Shawn started a nonprofit bicycle shop
called WeCycle Atlanta that helps teach inner-city youth
valuable life skills and the impact of community service.
- Tawanda S., Orlando,
FL: Tawanda spreads holiday cheer by organizing toy
drives for underprivileged families in her community.
To support Lay's in the mission to spread millions of smiles,
fans are encouraged to smile by sharing their own Lay's Smiles bag
using the hashtag #SmilewithLays across social media to help spread
a powerful sense of joy nationwide.
Lay's specially designed Smiles bags are now available
nationwide for a limited time starting Sunday, July 28. For more information on the
campaign, visit www.Lays.com.
About Lay's
Lay's is one of the brands that makes up
Frito-Lay North America, the
$15 billion convenient foods division
of PepsiCo, Inc. (Nasdaq: PEP), which is headquartered in
Purchase, NY. Learn more about
Frito-Lay at the corporate website, http://www.fritolay.com/, the
Snack Chat blog, http://www.snacks.com/ and on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/fritolay. Learn more about Lay's by visiting
www.facebook.com/lays or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lays. You
can also follow Lay's on Instagram by visiting
http://instagram.com/lays.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by
consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200
countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo
generated more than $64 billion in net revenue
in 2018, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that
includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana.
PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable
foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more
than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail.
About Operation Smile
Operation Smile has provided
hundreds of thousands safe surgeries for those born with cleft lip,
cleft palate or other facial differences. With more than three
decades of expertise, Operation Smile creates solutions that
deliver free surgery to people where it's needed most. As one of
the largest medical volunteer-based nonprofits, Operation Smile has
mobilized thousands of medical volunteers from a wide range of
medical specialties from more than 80 countries. Operation Smile
engages public-private partnerships to advance health care
delivery, train local medical professionals to provide surgical
care for patients in their communities, donate crucial medical
equipment and supplies, and increase access to surgical care so
that everyone living with cleft is treated.
Visit www.operationsmile.org, find us on Facebook or follow us
on Twitter.
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SOURCE Frito-Lay North
America
