Colgate Tries to "Refresh Everything"

On June 1, two ideas from Colgate were submitted to the Pepsi Refresh Project.  Pepsi is giving away millions of dollars to "refresh" communites, education and the arts. 

We've been looking for ways to make money to help the community. However, most grants require us to be a 501(c)3, which we at this time, we are not. The great thing about this contest, is that you don't have to be a nonprofit.

So, one idea is in the $5K tier, this is so we can hold a community-wide clean Up and a couple of community events. With this grant money, we want to purchase items and rent equipement to really clean up Colgate and do it right. We also want to host an outdoor movie night and a community block party.

Sure it's a tight budget, but we want the neighborhood to know that the Colgate Improvement Association is not just about rats and monthly meetings.

The second idea is part of the Pepsi Challenge. Each month, Pepsi asks a question.  For July, we were asked, "How do you want to honor the soliders from your hometown?" This was easy! We know that when soldiers are deployed, they may have left a "honey-do" list behind. The Colgate Improvement Association wants to find five homes (each in a different neighborhood) and get that list completed. 

Now, it won't building an addition, but maybe putting up a new door, installing a ceiling light, painting a room, small things that add up. We feel that when soldiers come back from Iraq or Afghanistan, they should be able to spend time with their families on outings. We are asking for $10K and this would also be used to throw a party for each house too.

So, why am I blogging about this? Well, it's not just people in our neighborhood who can vote for us, its everyone! We need your help. Right now the $5K project is low on the leader board. Out of 101 projects, we are sitting at 92. Let's show the country what Dundalk can do! For the 10K project, we are sitting at 40 out of 86. 

This is the link for the $5K Project:

http://www.refresheverything.com/colgate-improvement-association

This is the link for the $10K Project:

http://www.refresheverything.com/welcome-home

You can vote for both each day throughout the month of July. If you drink Pepsi products, some packaging has "Power Votes" which will also help us move up the leader board.

We thank everyone in advance. And hope that after you vote, you can refresh your neighborhood by saying, "Hi," to your neighbor, or picking up trash on the sidewalk, or helping an elderly neighbor mow their lawn.