Boys and Girls Club needs support in contest for $50,000
A local nonprofit organization that provides after-school programs for hundreds of children needs support in its quest to secure a $50,000 grant from Pepsi.
The Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township is part of the September Pepsi Refresh Everything Project, which provides grants from $5,000 to $250,000. This month, Pepsi is giving away $1.3 million in grants to fund projects in areas of health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhoods and education. "You can support your community because the better the community does, the better everybody does," said Tom Roeser, a Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township vice president. "We are serving 600 kids who wouldn't be served and investing in those kids is a reason to vote."
Online and text voters are needed to help the club achieve its goal. Supporters may vote once a day at refresheverything.com/perryelementary or by texting 102298 to 73774 (PEPSI).
Voting ends on Sept. 30 and winners will be announced on Oct. 1.
The projects at each level that receive the most votes in a one-month time frame are awarded funding.
Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township, Curt McReynolds, said the grant would enable the organization to continue providing resources for the Perry Elementary School club. The members in the after-school program learn basic computer skills, as well as life skills like healthy food choices, and drug and alcohol prevention.
McReynolds said the location, which serves about 175 first- through fourth-graders, is the only site not funded through state or federal grants. The organization relies on membership dues and donations to run it.
"It would be huge if we could get funding," McReynolds said. "It would allow us to put in over $40,000 for staffing to provide quality mentors and staff. We serve kids that are truly at risk and need a safe environment until 6:30 or 7 p.m."
McReynolds said the money would be used for staffing, supplies and transportation.
To receive a grant, the organization must finish in the top 10 when voting closes at the end of the month. As of Friday afternoon, the club was ranked 76th.