Robert Morris Elementary School is among 1,000 competitors in the Pepsi Refresh Project this month with hopes of winning a $50,000 grant to build a new playground.
Sound like a long shot? Not anymore, as Robert Morris is currently ranked 20th and they are still seeking your votes to help get them into the top 10 by the December 31st deadline.
"It's an important component and an important resource for our community as a whole" says Robert Morris principal Diane Bonarigo. "We have many families that come out and want their children to be on the playground during the day, throughout the early evening and on weekends".
Every month, Pepsi gives out $1.2 million in grant funds for worthy projects in the United States, therfore providing 12 submission periods. If a project doesn't win one month, it can be resubmitted, according to the website rules. And if it made the top 100, it will automatically be rolled into the next month's competition.
This month, there were 1,096 ideas submitted. But only the first 1,000 are considered
"We need a new playground because our swings are broken" says one student. "We need new monkey bars" adds another, and a parent states "it's not handicap accessible right now".
HOW TO VOTE:
1. You can go to refresheverything.com/robertmorrisplagyround, where you can find more information -- including a video made by students, staff and parents -- and vote by clicking the "Vote for this idea" tab (upper right).
2. You can also vote via text messaging. Simply text to 73774 and enter 104607 in the message.
3. If you have a Facebook account, you can enter your Facebook username and password to cast your vote (and also share with friends).
(People can go online and vote up to 10 times a day per person, per IP address/account.)
Photo: Robert Morris Principal Diane Bonarigo- excerpt from contest submission video)
