United Negro College Fund and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Announce $1.2 Million Corporate Scholars Program

The College Fund (UNCF)
Monday, 5 June 2000

Program Aimed at Increasing Educational and Career Opportunities for Minority Students

ATLANTA, June 5, 2000 - The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) today announced a three-year $1.2 million UNCF/CCE Corporate Scholars Program that will provide scholarships and internships to African American and Hispanic students from historically black colleges and universities and other institutions of higher education.

Fourteen students were chosen to participate in an 8-10 week paid internship program during which students will work on industry projects under the guidance of a corporate mentor at seven Coca-Cola Enterprises facilities in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Memphis, and Montgomery.

"I am extremely excited about this partnership with Coca-Cola Enterprises, which will provide students with a wonderful opportunity to obtain vital financial assistance and gain hands-on experience working with leading soft drink industry executives," said William H. Gray, III, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund. "As is the case with many of UNCF's corporate scholars program, I am confident that several of these students will ultimately identify and secure career opportunities with Coca-Cola Enterprises."

The students, who are second-semester sophomores pursuing degrees in finance, human resources, marketing, and sales management, will also receive a $5,000 scholarship toward their college degree. In 2001 and 2002, twenty-eight students will participate in the program.

"Coca-Cola Enterprises is very pleased to be able to make a difference in the education of African American and Hispanic students, and we are especially proud to partner with UNCF in this effort to bring education close to home in our local markets," said Summerfield K. Johnston, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises. "It is an opportunity to mentor students and prepare them for future careers, while showing them how the local Coca-Cola bottler takes pride in serving our people, our partners, and our communities."

"I am very grateful to the United Negro College Fund and Coca-Cola Enterprises for creating this program, which is providing me with an excellent opportunity to work in corporate America and to develop relationships with individuals who can offer me guidance and support," said a student.

UNCF is a fund-raising consortium for 39 private, fully accredited, four-year historically black colleges and universities. As an educational assistance organization, UNCF provides research and publications on black higher education, administers over 450 programs annually, assists the colleges in obtaining grants for special projects, coordinates student and faculty enrichment programs, and facilitates access to state-of-the-art technology for students and faculty. In its 56-year history, UNCF has raised over $1.5 billion to promote higher education achievement in the African American community and has helped more than 300,000 African Americans earn undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: CCE) is the world's largest marketer, distributor, and producer of bottle and can liquid nonalcoholic refreshment. Coca-Cola Enterprises sells more than 74 percent of The Coca-Cola Company's bottle and can volume in North America and is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, Great Britain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France.

For more information, or to contact The College Fund (UNCF), see their website at: www.uncf.org