PepsiCo Ireland has donated €35,000 to suicide charity Pieta House to mark Blue Monday.
Blue Monday occurs on the third Monday of January and is often cited as the ‘most depressing day of the year’ due to factors such as weather, finances and our failure to keep New Year’s resolutions. To mark Blue Monday 2021, PepsiCo Ireland has donated €35,000 to Pieta House, with the money helping to combat suicide and self-harm all year round.
Staff at PepsiCo chose Pieta House as the charity they wanted to help and speaking about the team’s decision, PepsiCo Ireland General Manager, Adam Smart said: “The PepsiCo Ireland team understands the importance of supporting local initiatives. Now, more than ever, our mental wellbeing is something we must nurture. Pieta’s mission and values mean so much to us and we wanted to show our support. Our donation is an acknowledgement of the critical work Pieta does, while also a commitment to a more hopeful 2021.”
Accepting the donation, Sinead Price, Pieta Fundraising Director, said: “We are hugely appreciative of PepsiCo and their employees for this donation. Although January is a tough month, it’s important to remember mental illness doesn’t discriminate – we can feel depressed and possibly suicidal at any time of the year. These funds will help to sustain our free, lifesaving services and support those in distress at these most challenging times.”
Pieta House was set up in Lucan, Co. Dublin in 2006 and the charity has since gone on to help 58,000 people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm. Pieta now operates 15 centres and five outreach services across Ireland.
PepsiCo’s products include brands such as Doritos, Walkers, Tropicana and Naked Smoothies.
