Latest news with #NiagaraBottling
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Niagara Cares Grows Its Commitment to Water Quality Through Tree Planting
LINCOLN, Neb., August 12, 2025 /3BL/ - Niagara Cares, the charitable division of the country's leading beverage manufacturer Niagara Bottling, has announced a new commitment to plant one million trees by 2030 in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation. Niagara Cares first partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation in 2024 and in less than two years, has already helped plant more than 456,000 trees across the country. Their work has focused on safeguarding clean water supplies for people and wildlife by planting trees in forestlands and watersheds. Trees play a critical role in reducing erosion, improving the quality of water by filtering pollutants, and boosting water quantities by holding water in the soil. 'Water and trees are two natural resources that are inextricably linked. In order to protect water health, we must protect tree health,' said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. 'Through its dedication to tree planting in forests and watersheds, Niagara Cares has demonstrated a strong commitment to lasting impact. They've been all-in since the beginning of our partnership and our team is proud to continue this important work alongside them as they seek to plant one million trees.' 'We are proud to support our Niagara communities and contribute to efforts that protect the environment and enhance quality of life,' said Ann Canela, director of corporate giving at Niagara Bottling. 'Planting trees helps improve water quality, restore natural habitats, and create a greener, healthier future for generations to come. Through our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, we're making meaningful strides toward our five-year goal of planting one million trees across the U.S.' Niagara Cares's effort to protect and preserve water resources was highlighted in Water Ways, a short documentary produced by Good is Everywhere. Water Ways was recently awarded Best Short Documentary at the Golden State Film Festival. Niagara Cares tree planting efforts have also supported natural disaster recovery and nurtured landscapes communities in need of trees. Forested watersheds provide drinking water to more than 150 million people in the United States. Click here to learn more about the powerful relationship between trees and water. About Niagara Cares Niagara Cares is the heart of what we do and who we are at Niagara Bottling. For more than 60 years, we have been making a difference for our Team Members, consumers and communities through philanthropic giving, volunteering, water donations and disaster relief. As a family-owned business, we are committed to creating meaningful change for our communities through a spirit of giving back both big and small. For more information, visit About Niagara Bottling Niagara Bottling, LLC has been family owned and operated since 1963. Headquartered in Diamond Bar, Calif., Niagara operates bottling facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. As a leading U.S. beverage manufacturer, Niagara Bottling works closely with some of the largest retailers, grocers, club and convenience stores throughout the country. Niagara produces a variety of beverages including bottled water, sparkling, vitamin and flavored water, teas, sports drinks, ready-to-drink coffee, protein drinks and non-dairy milk products. For more information, visit About the Arbor Day Foundation The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they've answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning. The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at ### Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Arbor Day Foundation
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UCLA's 'water boy' is soaking in success after becoming first national brand ambassador
On the eve of UCLA's biggest game of the season, there was a fluid situation in the locker room. The water boy couldn't find anything to drink. Nothing on hand aligned with Finn Barkenaes' new sponsor, Niagara Bottling, leading to jokes about a personal prohibition. 'He can't drink certain kind of drinks because he's got an NIL deal,' Bruins coach Mick Cronin said of the head student manager who recently became the first water boy to land a national brand sponsorship. 'And I was looking around, and they said, 'No, it's true.'' Barkenaes can actually drink whatever he wants, but he'd strongly prefer it be a Niagara product. The Diamond Bar-based company recently selected the senior business economics major to be its pitchman for what might be the ultimate Cinderella story of March Madness. 'Let's be real, water boys don't get NIL deals,' Barkenaes said, 'so it's been pretty cool to be part of something that's, like, flip the script on things and get recognized, even if it is in kind of a joking manner.' During the next few weeks, Barkenaes will be featured on Niagara's Instagram and other social media platforms, the tagline being that 2025 is the 'Year of the water boy.' 'At Niagara, we believe unsung heroes like Finn keep top athletic programs running strong with high-quality water,' said Julia Buchanan, the company's vice president of marketing and communications. 'He was the perfect choice as our first-ever NIL water boy — his dedication to UCLA athletics is unmatched, and he plays a vital role in supporting a legendary program.' Read more: 'I haven't had my dad around': How UCLA's Skyy Clark kept going amid father's illness At first, Barkenaes thought the whole thing was a joke. A water boy pitchman? Seriously? He realized otherwise once he started hopping on Zooms with company executives from around the country, leading to his signing a deal with undisclosed terms. Barkenaes did divulge that he's already received several cases of water, with more likely to come. 'I'm jealous,' Cronin said as his team prepared to face Utah State on Thursday at Rupp Arena in the first round of the NCAA tournament. 'That's what I just told him.' Handing out water might be the easiest thing Barkenaes does. He and the other managers sweep the practice court, load equipment onto buses and planes, tape simulated basketball courts onto hotel ballroom floors and try — in an often futile effort — to stop the team's big men in practice while wearing oversized pads on their arms. 'He's hitting us, pushing us,' center Aday Mara said of Barkenaes. This isn't the first time Barkenaes has been called a water boy. Arizona and Arizona State fans once used the term to heckle him, but the taunts had the opposite of their intended effect. 'The whole idea is that we're out of the spotlight, and the people who work this job do it because they love basketball and they love UCLA,' said Barkenaes, who wants to work in wealth management or finance after graduation. 'All of the staff with me, they're not in it for the spotlight and the recognition, so I think people kind of embrace it, it's kind of like a chip-on-your-shoulder thing. It's like, 'I'm the water boy, I'm the one that people typically don't care about.'' Now he's the talk of the locker room, players calling Barkenaes 'Money man,' 'Niagara boy' and 'Water boy.' He just smiles, a nobody soaking in success. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
20-03-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
UCLA's ‘water boy' is soaking in success after becoming first national brand ambassador
LEXINGTON, Ky. — On the eve of UCLA's biggest game of the season, there was a fluid situation in the locker room. The water boy couldn't find anything to drink. Nothing on hand aligned with Finn Barkenaes' new sponsor, Niagara Bottling, leading to jokes about a personal prohibition. 'He can't drink certain kind of drinks because he's got an NIL deal,' Bruins coach Mick Cronin said of the head student manager who recently became the first water boy to land a national brand sponsorship. 'And I was looking around, and they said, 'No, it's true.'' Barkenaes can actually drink whatever he wants, but he'd strongly prefer it be a Niagara product. The Diamond Bar-based company recently selected the senior business economics major to be its pitchman for what might be the ultimate Cinderella story of March Madness. 'Let's be real, water boys don't get NIL deals,' Barkenaes said, 'so it's been pretty cool to be part of something that's, like, flip the script on things and get recognized, even if it is in kind of a joking manner.' During the next few weeks, Barkenaes will be featured on Niagara's Instagram and other social media platforms, the tagline being that 2025 is the 'Year of the water boy.' 'At Niagara, we believe unsung heroes like Finn keep top athletic programs running strong with high-quality water,' said Julia Buchanan, the company's vice president of marketing and communications. 'He was the perfect choice as our first-ever NIL water boy — his dedication to UCLA athletics is unmatched, and he plays a vital role in supporting a legendary program.' At first, Barkenaes thought the whole thing was a joke. A water boy pitchman? Seriously? He realized otherwise once he started hopping on Zooms with company executives from around the country, leading to his signing a deal with undisclosed terms. Barkenaes did divulge that he's already received several cases of water, with more likely to come. 'I'm jealous,' Cronin said as his team prepared to face Utah State on Thursday at Rupp Arena in the first round of the NCAA tournament. 'That's what I just told him.' Handing out water might be the easiest thing Barkenaes does. He and the other managers sweep the practice court, load equipment onto buses and planes, tape simulated basketball courts onto hotel ballroom floors and try — in an often futile effort — to stop the team's big men in practice while wearing oversized pads on their arms. 'He's hitting us, pushing us,' center Aday Mara said of Barkenaes. This isn't the first time Barkenaes has been called a water boy. Arizona and Arizona State fans once used the term to heckle him, but the taunts had the opposite of their intended effect. 'The whole idea is that we're out of the spotlight, and the people who work this job do it because they love basketball and they love UCLA,' said Barkenaes, who wants to work in wealth management or finance after graduation. 'All of the staff with me, they're not in it for the spotlight and the recognition, so I think people kind of embrace it, it's kind of like a chip-on-your-shoulder thing. It's like, 'I'm the water boy, I'm the one that people typically don't care about.'' Now he's the talk of the locker room, players calling Barkenaes 'Money man,' 'Niagara boy' and 'Water boy.' He just smiles, a nobody soaking in success.
