Pepsi Refresh Gives Back! (Blog Tour)

There is no one on Earth who loves Pepsi more than I do. I'm serious. It's almost like an addiction. In fact, my husband says it is an addiction. But one that I am totally ok with. If I was marooned on a desert island, I would need to have a lifetime supply of Pepsi with me, or I wouldn't last a day.

I recently found out about the Pepsi Refresh Project. It's this fantastic way that Pepsi is giving back to the community. Through the Pepsi Refresh Project, Pepsi will give away more than $20 million dollars to fund projects - both big and small - that will help make communities better. Rather than using their money to advertise in the Superbowl this year, Pepsi is taking that money and giving back. I think it's great that something I love so much is stepping up and taking care of communities all over our nation.

So, how does the Pepsi Refresh Project work? Glad you asked! Every month, you can submit a project in one of six categories:

1. Health
2. Arts & Culture
3. Food & Shelter
4. The Planet
5. Neighborhood
6. Education

Then, at the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions on their website, and the public will vote on who should win grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 (and totaling up to $1.3 million dollars!)

Mom Central recently had the opportunity to interview Lauren Hobart, Mom and CMO of Sparking Brands at Pepsi. Here's what she had to say:

Why is Pepsi Refresh Unique?
The program is unique because it puts the power in the hands of the consumer. Individuals submit their ideas and then the nation votes on the idea that moves them the most. This is done in a very ground up way. Essentially, we’ve democratized the process.


What are some exciting ideas you hope to see submitted through the PRP this year?
We’re excited to see the range of ideas that are submitted through the program. There are six different categories, and we want ideas across all of them. So far we’ve seen a fantastic response to the program. Within the first week we received over 1000 ideas, which came from every state and every age group.


As a Mom what types of lessons do you hope children learn by getting involved in community projects?
Parents want to instill good values in their children and encourage them to act on their ideas and beliefs. As a Mom myself, I’ve shared this program with other moms in my community and have found that it sparks a cord with everyone. I’ve also seen my own children get very excited about it. I think it just feels right to them.


What is your advice for moms that have ideas about refreshing their communities? What level of grant is idea? How should they craft their submissions?
First figure out the size and scope of the idea. Most individuals should opt for the $5000 grant, but it really depends on the idea and who you’ll be working with to bring it to action. People should also remember that winning comes with the responsibility to bringing you idea to life. If you need inspiration, there are example ideas on the Pepsi Refresh website to help get you started as well as a toolkit that guides you through the application process.


Who are the ideal grant applicants?
There isn’t really an ideal applicant. Anyone over 13 and a US resident can submit an application for the program. That said, people who are tapped into many different networks and able to promote and share their ideas once submitted may have the best chance of success.


Who should be involved in the submission process? If my child has an idea, should she submit it, or should I, or should her teacher help?
Young children, particularly those under 13 years old, should work with parents or teacher. Pepsi Refresh offers an amazing opportunity for a teaching moment with parents since you can get your kids to think about what impact they can have how they can make a difference. The program can get them engaged, thinking and talking about their impact on the world in a whole new way.

There are two ways you can get involved with the Pepsi Refresh program starting today:

1. If you and your family have a fantastic idea for an improvement you'd like to see in your community, you can submit it for the March round of grants. Maybe your park needs some ramps or walkways to make it wheelchair accessible. Or maybe your favorite library really needs a new set of encyclopedias. It doesn't matter how big or small, just head to www.RefreshEverything.com and submit your entry.
2. Head over to www.RefreshEverything.com and vote for your favorite submissions for February's grants.

I'm really excited to be able to help spread the word about the Pepsi Refresh Project. I think it's an amazing opportunity for so many communities out there. And I hope you'll take part in the project, either by submitting an entry on behalf of your community or by voting on someone else's entry.

And don't forget: You can connect with the Pepsi Refresh program via twitter (@Pepsi), facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/refresheverything,) or at www.RefreshEverything.com.

Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Refresh. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.