Spelman College, with the help of the Coca-Cola Foundation, recently established a new scholarship in the name of the institution’s trustees Helen Smith Price.

The Helen Smith Price, C’79, Endowed Finish Line Scholarship will provide financial assistance to help high achieving students successfully complete their experience at Spelman. Supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation through a gift to Spelman, sophomores, juniors and seniorsĀ in good academic standing are eligible for the annual need-based scholarship.

ā€œI am honored by The Coca-Cola Foundation’s $60,000 donation to establish the Helen Smith Price Finish Line Scholarship,” Price said.

Price recently retired from Coca-Cola after 27 years of service. The class of 1979 graduate’s most recent roles were vice president, Global Community Affairs for The Coca-Cola Company and president of The Coca-Cola Foundation.

ā€œThis is a special gift named in honor of an alumna and servant leader whose dynamic career in corporate philanthropy has an impact globally and in metro Atlanta communities, including those neighborhoods surrounding her alma mater,ā€ said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. ā€œSpelman is laser focused on reducing debt for our graduates. Through generous support from The Coca-Cola Foundation celebrating our beloved trustee, students will reach the end of their undergraduate journey with one less barrier between them and their bright futures as change agents, who will undoubtedly follow in Helen’s footsteps.ā€

During her tenure at Coca-Cola, Price led the foundation’s global strategy, governance and regulatory compliance for domestic and international philanthropy.

Under her direction, the foundation and company contributed $125 million in 2019 to enhance the environment, empower women and enrich the well-being of people and communities.

At the Company, HelenĀ provided the strategy and framework to fulfill the company’s annual commitment of giving back at least one percent of its prior year’s operating income to local communities.

ā€œHelen exemplifies The Coca-Cola Company’s purpose: to refresh the world and make a difference. As president of the Coca-Cola Foundation and head of our company’s community work, Helen developed and led our giving strategies in our hometown of Atlanta and around the world. Her passion for serving has made a profound difference. To celebrate her legacy, we’re thrilled to establish the Helen Smith Price Finish Line Scholarship at her alma mater, Spelman College,ā€ Campbell said.

Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Price worked at the BellSouth Corporation, in various financial roles, including manager positions in financial management, comptrollers and tax, and human resources. After earning her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Spelman, she obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Atlanta University.

As an involved community builder, she serves on the board of Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, the Woodruff Arts Center’s Alliance Theatre, Westside Future Fund, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation. She is a former board member of United Way of MetropolitanĀ Atlanta and the advisory board of the Morehouse College Leadership Institute.

(Photo: The Coca-Cola Company)
(Photo: The Coca-Cola Company)

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