National Puerto Rican Day Parade and Miller Coors
Note: As reported in the news, the Office of NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has begun an investigation into the relationship between Miller Coors and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade resulting from the controversy over MillerCoors' sponsorship of the parade and use of its logo with the Puerto Rican flag on Coors Light beer cans. Below are copies of the letters requesting information about the relationship between the two entities.
---Angelo Falcón
CONTENTS
* Letter to National Puerto Rican Day Parade (May 29, 2013)
* Letter to MillerCoors (May 30, 2013)
Text of letter from NYS Attorney General's Office to the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
To view original, click here
May 29, 2013
Madelyn Lugo
Chairperson
National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.
2804 Third Avenue
Bronx, NY 10455
Re: National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Dear Ms. Lugo:
This office has become aware that the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. has entered into sponsorship arrangements with MillerCoors permitting it to use the Parade's name on Coors Light products (the "Coors Arrangement"). I am writing to ask you to clarify how the Coors Arrangement furthers the charitable mission of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. and protects its charitable assets, including its reputation and name.
I am also seeking clarification of the nature of your organization's relationship with MillerCoors and how such relationship has been reported in annual financial reports filed with our office. In a statement released to the media, MillerCoors said the following: "Coors Light has supported the National Puerto Rican Day Parade for the last seven years in celebration and honor of Puerto Rican heritage....As part ofour partnership over the years we've contributed to the Parade's Diversity Scholarship Fund which has helped dozens of students manage the financial burdens of attaining a higher education." It is unclear from this statement the nature and scope of the "partnership" between MillerCoors and your organization.
Accordingly, please provide responses to the following questions by no later than June 3, 2013:
1. How does the Coors Arrangement further the 2013 Parade's theme of "Celebrating Your Health," as well as your organization's charitable purposes "to promote the Puerto Rican culture and heritage" and its stated "responsibility to inspire our youth and instill a strong sense of self worth and pride in our community?"
2. Describe the key terms of the Coors Arrangement for the 2013 Parade, including the terms permitting MillerCoors to use your organization's name, and whether your organization has received, or expects to receive, any proceeds from the sale of Coors Light products that reference the 2013 Parade or your organization's name. Please provide copies of your organization's agreements with MillerCoors concerning the Coors Arrangement.
3. Describe the "partnership" that has existed with MillerCoors over the past seven years, and when your organization first designated MillerCoors as sponsor of the Parade.
* Please clarify the amount and nature of the contributions MillerCoors has made to or on behalf the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. in each of the past seven years, and the terms of any arrangements or agreements regarding those contributions.
* Please explain how any contributions made to your organization by MillerCoors have been reported on your organization's financial reports as filed with our office.
* Please provide us a list of scholarships provided by your organization during the past seven years, identifying the amounts of the scholarships and what portion was funded by contributions made by MillerCoors.
4. Has the Board of Directors of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. approved the Coors Arrangement? If so, please provide copies of minutes of any board meetings at which such approval occurred or was discussed.
Please contact me upon receipt of this letter if you have any questions. We appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Jason R. Lilien
Bureau Chief, Charities Bureau
Text of letter from
NYS Attorney General's Office
to MillerCoors
To view original, click here
May 30, 2013
Tom Long
Chief Executive Officer
MillerCoors
250 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, II 60606
Re: National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Dear Mr. Long:
I am writing to obtain information about MillerCoors' relationship with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc., a New York-based charity registered with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau. MillerCoors' sponsorship of the 2013 Parade has raised concerns about how the charity is being used to market and sell alcoholic products, especially in light of the 2013 Parade's theme, "Celebrating Your Health." The terms of this arrangement, and how the charity will benefit from it, are unclear.
Also unclear is the nature and extent ofthe broader financial relationship between MillerCoors and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. In a statement released to the media, MillerCoors said the following: "Coors Light has supported the National Puerto Rican Day Parade for the last seven years in celebration and honor of PuertoRican heritage....As part of our partnership over the years we've contributed to the Parade's Diversity Scholarship Fund which has helped dozens of students manage the financial burdens of attaining a higher education." In order for us to understand the terms of your "partnership" and the resulting charitable contributions, please provide us the following information no later than June 4,2013:
1. Describe the key terms of your arrangement with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. concerning the 2013 Parade. In your response, state whether MillerCoors has donated, or expects to donate, any portion of the purchase price of its alcoholic products to benefit the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. and, if so, the terms and amounts of such payments. Please provide copies of any agreements concerning the 2013 Parade.
2. Describe the "partnership" that has existed with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. over the past seven years, including when MillerCoors first became a sponsor ofthe Parade, and how the Parade's name has been used in the sale and marketing of products during this period. Please provide copies of all agreements concerning this "partnership."
3. List the amounts, dates and nature of all contributions MillerCoors has made to, or on behalf of, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. in each of the past seven years, and describe the terms of any arrangements or agreements regarding those contributions.
4. Provide us with any records, reports and any other documents MillerCoors has received from the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc. or any other entity or individual concerning its scholarship program.
Please contact me upon receipt of this letter if you have any questions. We appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Jason R. Lilien
Bureau Chief, Charities Bureau