One World-Pepsi Announces Millions in Grants

Comments from: Bonin Bough-Pepsi Representative  

The Pepsi Refresh Project is a new effort to empower individuals to make a positive impact on the world. We have pledged to award more than $20 million to support innovative ideas that move communities forward. Anyone can apply for a grant and the public decides who wins.

Each month, Pepsi will award grants up to $1.3 million to the winning ideas across six categories, including: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods and Education.

Pepsi will collaborated with organizations that are dedicated to making a positive difference in the world to design and implement the Pepsi Refresh Project. These partners include GOOD, a leading platform for thought and action revolving around pushing the world forward; Global Giving, an online marketplace that connects people who have community and world-changing ideas with people who can support them; and Do Something, the largest non-profit teen charity..

Our theory of social change is that new ideas are born from optimism, a curious mind and a creative spirit. We can make a difference by equipping people with the means to bring their ideas to life.  And, we believe social media and digital engagement can fuel, extend and inform these efforts. 

This focus on social engagement is driven from the highest points of the PepsiCo organization – and you can expect to see great things on this front from PepsiCo over the coming years.  What is at the core of all of our efforts is how can we continue to help and support the space by being an organization that is open to exploring and working with all of the bright minds and emerging technologies that are driving social media forward.  

Through the Pepsi Refresh Project, we’re helping to move people’s ideas from wishful thinking to reality. The results so far have exceeded our expectations. After just 72 hours, we quickly hit our 1,000 submission limit for the first month — including at least one submission from each state. We look forward to tracking the winning ideas and we can’t wait to see what people come up with next.

The lesson is: if you listen to what people have to say and give voice to their perspectives, you can inspire people and empower their ideas to refresh the world.

Note form Richard: The power of corporations that exemplify positive change and connectivity through projects such as the Pepsi Refresh Project helps to bring healing and awareness to a lonely and fragmented world. If you have a great idea to better your community and possibly the world, this may be your opportunity to make a world of difference.

Best wishes, Richard. Here is the link: www.refresheverything.com