Press release
Tostitos, Mario And Courtney Lopez To Provide Relief To Hispanic Community During COVID-19 Pandemic With 'Salsa For Cinco'
Free Online Salsa Dance Event on Cinco de Mayo to Raise Funds for the UnidosUS Esperanza/Hope Fund and Provide Emergency Cash Assistance to Low-Income,
About this update from Pepsico, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Free Online Salsa Dance Event on Cinco de Mayo to Raise Funds for the UnidosUS Esperanza/Hope Fund and Provide Emergency Cash Assistance to Low-Income, Struggling Latino Families\n\n\nPLANO, Texas, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when many around the world are practicing social distancing, Tostitos is reminding America not to forget the good stuff this Cinco de Mayo… for an extremely important cause. The brand will aid COVID-19 relief efforts while still providing a small break and moment of levity May 5 is traditionally known for.\nTostitos is hosting \"Salsa for Cinco,\" a free online salsa dancing class for the entire country, directed by dance aficionados Mario and Courtney Lopez, to raise money for the Hispanic community — a group disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tostitos and the Lopez family have partnered with UnidosUS, the nation's largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, to raise awareness about the impact coronavirus is having on the Latino community:\nHalf of Latinos (49%) vs. one-third of U.S. adults (33%) have taken a pay cut or lost a job due to COVID-191. Two-thirds of Latinos (68%) vs. half of the general population (47%) say COVID-19 is a major threat to their health and finances1. Eight million Latinos are employed in restaurants, hotels and other jobs at high risk of health & economic loss1. Hispanics are about half as likely as other Americans (16.2% vs. 29.9%) to be able to work from home1.All efforts around Salsa for Cinco are meant to raise money and relief for the Latino community. Tostitos will donate $100,000 to kick off the program and, for every person who joins the livestream, the brand will donate an additional $5 in honor of Cinco de Mayo up to $100,000. The funds will provide emergency cash assistance to 125 low-income Latino families struggling to pay for basic needs like groceries, diapers, medicine, rent and utilities. \n\"The entire world is in need of moments of levity and reminders to savor those little moments of joy during these trying times,\" said Mario Lopez, a former \"Dancing with the Stars\" contestant and salsa dance enthusiast who often partners with his wife, Courtney Lopez, a classically trained Broadway dancer and actress. \"At the same time, we need to raise awareness about the Hispanic population who has been hit incredibly hard durin...