PepsiCo’s Quaker Chewy Granola Bars brand is teaming up with Jordin Sparks and the nonprofit organization, Afterschool Alliance, to raise awareness of the importance of afterschool programs. Sparks is lending her voice to the Quaker Chewy Afterschool Rocks campaign to help generate support for afterschool programs and fuel activities with snacks made with whole grain to give kids a great start to the new school year.

Doritos Australia has eventually named the winner of its “Doritos Make an Ad, Make a Fortune” national contest, which started in May. For the second consecutive year, the brand in cooperation with the Sydney-based Clemenger BBDO agency was encouraging creative minds from all across the country to enter the competition and become rich by creating a funny 29-second ad about Doritos. This year’s winner, 21-year old Alex George, managed to win the heart of the judges and voters with his ‘Tasmanian’ commercial and received $30 as the prize for sharing a piece of his creativity with Australia.

Coca-Cola, IBM, Microsoft and Google lead Interbrand‘s 11th annual ranking of the «Best Global Brands.»  Google (#4) sees a 36% increase in value over last year, bringing the brand closer than ever to rival Microsoft (#3). HP (#10) enters the top 10 for the first time, having increased brand value under a new business model and brand platform. For the 11th year straight, Coca-Cola (#1) retains its top spot as the number one ranked brand on the list.

Doritos launched the biggest, most unexpected Crash the Super Bowl yet. With an ad contract and a $5 million payout on the line for sweeping the top three rankings of the USA TODAY Ad Meter, the contest will offer an unprecedented six :30 Super Bowl ad spots for consumer-created commercials. Plus, this year’s contest brings the most surprising twist to date—Doritos inviting Pepsi MAX to the program for even more chances to sweep the top spots on the Ad Meter. Each brand will air three :30 consumer-created ads during the Super Bowl XLV broadcast, February 6, on FOX.