TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Santa Claus, a huggable polar bear and hundreds of people gathered on the Vigo County courthouse and City Hall courtyard in late November to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Coca-Cola. The red-themed celebration also paid tribute to Terre Haute being the birthplace of Coke’s well-known glass contour bottle.

‘Today’s moment of thanks is about the people of Terre Haute, past and present, who have helped Coca-Cola reach this milestone,” said Mark Rahiya, Coca-Cola’s refreshments senior vice president of sales. “In 1915, innovative Hoosiers made an important contribution to Coca-Cola’s history by creating the iconic Coca-Cola contour bottle. Today we celebrate everyone in Terre Haute and Indiana who loves and enjoys Coca-Cola.”

Coca-Cola leaders joined Gov. Mitch Daniels, Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett and United Way of the Wabash Valley (UWWV) Executive Director Troy Fears to affirm their joint commitment to investing in the community.

“Coca-Cola has been a part of the Indiana community for more than 100 years, and I am happy to be among those helping them honor the people of Terre Haute and recall this city’s important place in Coca-Cola’s proud history,” said Daniels.

Rahiya announced the company was donating 25 cents for every six-pack of 8-ounce Coca-Cola contour glass bottles purchased through Dec. 31, 2011, to the United Way of the Wabash Valley.

“This is a great event to be a part of and we’re thrilled Coca-Cola asked United Way to participate,” said Fears. “Coke’s president, Steve Cahillane, is himself a United Way campaign chair, so he is very supportive of our mission to touch lives in the community.”

Fears noted Coca-Cola’s donation is to be a minimum of $2,500. Coca-Cola hosted the community celebration featuring the company’s Holiday Caravan illuminated by 25,000 sparkling lights, and photo opportunities with the company’s Polar Bear and a robust Santa Claus seated in a lavish red throne emblazoned with “Coca-Cola.” U.S. Olympic diver David Boudia signed autographs.

Attendees enjoyed upbeat music from the band Illusion performing on a stage sporting a “Thank You Terre Haute” banner. Visitors were given a complimentary Coke. Commemorative Coca-Cola 125th anniversary glass contour bottles and red Coke stocking hats were also distributed.

Additional recognition came through a partnership between Coca-Cola, the Vigo County Public Library, the Vigo County Historical Society and the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). A Coca-Cola and Hoosier archive exhibit was at the library through Dec. 16, and the CVB recently unveiled a permanent Coca-Cola exhibit at its headquarters just off Interstate 70 at Terre Haute. The Historical Society houses a permanent Coca-Cola corridor tracing the contour bottle’s development.

Coca-Cola was created on May 8, 1886, in Atlanta, Ga., by Dr. John S. Pemberton and was first served at Jacob’s Pharmacy. In 1915, a design from the Root Glass Co. in Terre Haute won Coca-Cola’s enthusiastic approval and was introduced in 1916.

The Coca-Cola contour bottle became one of the few packages ever granted trademark status by the U.S. Patent office. Today, it’s one of the most recognized icons in the world.