Not to worry. America250, the bipartisan organization created by the U.S. Congress in 2016 to celebrate the nation’s 250-year anniversary in 2026, still is on track to “get ‘er done.”
Corporate
support is mounting. Most recently, in March 2025, The Coca-Cola Company of
Atlanta, Ga., announced it will be a premier “signature sponsor” of
“Semiquincentennial events” associated with the signing of the Declaration of
Independence on July 4, 1776.
(The name comes from “semi,” meaning “half,” and “quincentennial,” the term for a 500th anniversary. Therefore, “semiquincentennial” literally means “half-500,” which translates to 250.)
Rosa Gumataotao “Rosie” Rios (shown above), chair of the America250 movement, said that Coca-Cola has been a “symbol of American culture” since 1886, when the beverage was invented by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton (shown below).
“We
are thrilled to partner with The Coca-Cola Company,” Rios said. “This
collaboration exemplifies how we are working with America’s most iconic brands
to celebrate our shared heritage, to inspire national unity and to engage all
Americans in this once-in-a-lifetime milestone.”
She added: “As part of its America250 sponsorship, Coca-Cola will launch a series of commemorative initiatives” (called ‘activations’) that “will leverage the company’s unmatched marketing reach, nationwide retail presence and branding to ensure the celebration resonates across all communities,” Rios said.
Eric Kacker, a vice president with Coca-Cola North America, said the country’s leading soft drink company “is deeply woven into the fabric of America’s history and culture. Our partnership with America250 amplifies our company’s mission to ‘Refresh the World and Make a Difference.’”
The
complete news release gets far too “syrupy” to stomach…but Rios is wise to
round up private sector financial support. She knows a thing or two about
“financial resources,” having served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from
2009-16 as a member of the administration of President Barack Obama.
The Coca-Cola Company is the fifth U.S. corporation to join forces with America250 and put its money down. Others are:
• The
Goldman Sachs Group of New York City, an investment bank and financial services
company, founded in 1869.
• The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (commonly
known as BNY), a financial services company established in its current form in
2007, with headquarters in New York City.
• Meta Platforms, Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., a
technology company established in 2004, which owns Facebook and Instagram as
well as other social media platforms and communication services.
• Walmart Inc. of Bentonville, Ark., a giant retail corporation founded in 1962.
Participation by the private sector in America’s Semiquincentennial observance may ultimately be critical to its success. Public sector funding is at risk, according to Associated Press (AP) reporters Claire Rush and Gary Fields.
State
and local humanities councils are worried about the potentially crippling
effects from federal funding cuts dictated by President Donald Trump, Rush and
Fields reported. They cited the drying up of federal grant money that
traditionally flowed through the National Endowment for the Humanities to state
humanities councils.
“I
cannot imagine how we’re supposed to have a national commemoration that’s
meaningful for people where they live without the humanities being supported,”
said Gabrielle Lyon (shown below), executive director of Illinois Humanities.
“What
is it going to mean for small towns and rural communities who were expecting
the possibility of having grants to do special exhibits, special
commemorations, their own programs, and speakers and performers?”
“All of that is now extremely tenuous. And those are exactly the kinds of things people have been looking forward to,” Lyon told the AP.”
America’s Semiquincentennial is an enormous project, one that requires absolute cooperation and collaboration – up and down the line. That’s what makes America’s great.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment