Williamson County employer also hosts event gathering local community partners in efforts to build a more inclusive Middle Tennessee

FRANKLIN, Tenn. June 15, 2023 – As the Williamson County community comes together to honor Juneteenth, Mars Petcare is joining the celebration. The company, with more than 1,000 Associates throughout the Middle Tennessee area, is showing its support through a sponsorship of Franklin’s Juneteenth Festival and a newly launched scholarship program for local students.

“At Mars, we believe our collective differences unite us and we are committed to a world of inclusivity. We are grateful for our community partnerships with organizations that share our commitment, like the Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition. We appreciate the collaboration with our partners and Associates and are glad we can give back with support for local programs like the Juneteenth Festival,” said Travis Lester, director of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.

Announced during last year’s Juneteenth festivities, the company recently awarded its first “Purpose and Pawsibilities” scholarships to give underrepresented minority Williamson County students more educational opportunities. Five students received $10,000 scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition and other educational expenses for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. The recipients are also eligible for an internship with Mars Petcare during their junior year of college.

The scholarships were presented at a mixer held at Mars Pet Nutrition’s North American headquarters, in Franklin, yesterday. Bringing together Associates, community partners and advocates from across Williamson County, the event also provided an opportunity for the company to hear about additional ways to support initiatives that foster inclusion.

Next up is Franklin’s Juneteenth Festival, which takes place Saturday, June 17, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Square in Downtown Franklin. The 2023 event is powered by the Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition and the Urban League of Middle Tennessee. Mars Petcare is a returning sponsor for the 2023 event. Leashed pets are welcome and families with pets will find treats, cooling zones and pet-focused fun at the Mars Petcare Pet Zone.

Beyond Juneteenth, Mars Pet Nutrition North America supports inclusion and diversity year-round. A couple of the organization’s community partners include Backfield in Motion, a local nonprofit focusing on literacy education for at-risk youth, and Conexión Américas, a nonprofit with a goal of increasing awareness and support for Middle Tennessee’s Latino community. Inside its walls, Mars Pet Nutrition Associate Resource Groups work to educate, encourage allyship, and help further the organization’s vision of every Associate feeling they can be their authentic selves at work.

Learn more about Mars and its commitment to inclusion and diversity at Mars.com.

About Mars Petcare
Part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world’s pets – including brands PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, ROYAL CANIN®, NUTRO™,  GREENIES™, SHEBA®,  CESAR®, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™ as well as the Waltham Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD™,  BLUEPEARL™, VCA™,  Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We’re also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND™ programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. We’re also dedicated to providing a safe and fun place for dogs to stay and socialize at over 200 Camp Bow Wow® doggy day care and boarding facilities. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in – and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.