First Round of Pepsi Refresh Grantees Announced

PepsiCo has announced grants totaling $1.3 million to thirty-two individuals and organizations through the first round of its Pepsi Refresh contest.

The grants represent the first allocation of more than $20 million in funds to be awarded through the contest, which Pepsi is conducting in partnership with GOOD, Global Giving, and DoSomething.org. In January, individuals and organizations were invited to submit ideas in one of six categories: health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhoods, and education. Throughout February, visitors to the contest Web site voted for their favorite ideas to determine the first group of recipients. Grants announced in this round include two $250,000 awards, ten $50,000 awards, ten $25,000 awards, and ten $5,000 awards.

Grantees include the American Legion in Indianapolis, which received $250,000 to provide comfort items for U.S. military personnel recovering from injuries suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan; the Atlanta-based Economic Empowerment Initiative, which received $50,000 to provide financial literacy seminars to high school and college students; Seattle-based All-Ages Music, which received $50,000 to increase access to all-ages music in underserved areas; and 14-year-old Jonny Cohen from Highland Park, Illinois, who received $25,000 for a group he formed with his sister to make school buses more energy efficient. Additional grants include $250,000 to Teach for America; $50,000 to ServeNext.org; and $5,000 to the Detroit Area Diaper Bank.

"The Pepsi Refresh Project was developed with the belief that great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime," said Jill Beraud, chief marketing officer and president of joint ventures at PepsiCo Beverages Americas. "The first group of winners proves it's true. Each of them is a testament to how someone from any walk of life can produce powerful, creative, and fun ideas that can make a difference."

“The Pepsi Refresh Project Awards $1.3 Million to Support the Public's Favorite Ideas to Refresh the World.” PepsiCo Press Release 3/22/10.

Primary Subject: Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Location(s): Atlanta, Detroit, Georgia, Highland Park, Illinois, Indiana, Indianapolis, Michigan, National, Seattle, Washington

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