Pepsi Bottling Group, ShopRite and the YMCA created a center for children and families who are victims of violence across the nation, called Strong Families; Strong Children; Strong Communities ... Let's Be Safe.

The partnership was announced during a special event in West Philadelphia at the local YMCA center. Pepsi Bottling Group will also donate $25,000 through the Pepsi Bottling Group Foundation to assist in building the Strong Families; Strong Children; Strong Communities ... Let's Be Safe program.

The Safe Haven center will feature educational programs including after-school study programs, educational teenagers' discussion sessions and professional mentoring and support.

Pepsi Bottling Group is No. 2 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity^®  list, No. 4 on the Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention list, No. 7 on the Top 10 Companies for African Americans list, No. 2 on the Top 10 Companies for Latinos list and No. 10 on the Top 10 Companies for Executive Women list.

The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future will launch a series of scholarship programs to help increase the number of nursing professionals from different ethnic backgrounds.

The contribution will be given throughout the Johnson & Johnson and The American Association of Colleges for Nursing Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars program and will provide people of color studying nursing with economic support to help them achieve their graduate studies.

Participants must be enrolled in a master or doctoral program and must be a full-time student at an accredited institution. Winners will receive a $16,000 college grant and will have the opportunity to participate in various leadership-development and mentorship programs.

Johnson & Johnson is No. 17 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 7 on the Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees list, No. 6 on the Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities list and is one of the 25 Noteworthy Companies.

Verizon Communications donated $1 million to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation during the Radio City Music Hall Dream Concert, which featured African-American singers and civil-rights activists.

Verizon already has given $2 million in contributions to the memorial foundation. 

Verizon Communications is No. 6 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 8 on the Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention list and No. 3 on the Top 10 Companies for African Americans list.

Chrysler sponsored the National Student Case Competition this year, where Florida A&M University was honored with the award, becoming the first historically black university to win the prize.

The National Student Case Competition is held every year in combination with the National Black MBA Association convention. This program has been designed for students to present their knowledge and problem-solving skills. The prize was $35,000 in scholarship contributions, for which 30 business-school teams competed. Florida A&M University received a $15,000 grant, which will be used for scholarship purposes. 

DaimlerChrysler is No. 42 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list and No. 10 on the Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity list.

Honda Motor Co. will award $142,000 in grants to 42 HBCU marching bands for the 2007-2008 Honda Battle of the Bands Celebration showcase. This tour has been designed to invite and celebrate the culture and pride of America's HBCUs.

The prize will include a $1,000 award for each half-time performance by the bands during their school fall semester. Students can use Honda Battle of the Bands to select their favorite school bands. School-board directors will also select the best ones to participate based on their education commitments.

The 10 best bands performing will receive $10,000 each for their scholarship funds. The bands will also be invited to open the Invitational Showcase of the event to be celebrated in Jan. 26 in the Atlanta Dome.