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Please vote now! [1]
Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates and City of Pittsburgh asking Pittsburghers to vote for McCutchen's Pepsi Refresh Project
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that they have partnered with Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the City of Pittsburgh and the Student Conservation Association to compete for the opportunity to receive a $200,000 grant from Pepsi that will move the community forward as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are competing against 14 other Major League Baseball teams to receive the grant money, as part of the Pepsi Refresh Program for a project the teams are passionate about. Fans will have until Tuesday, August 17 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, to cast their votes for the program at www.mlb.com/PepsiRefresh [2] or by texting "Pirates" to 76462.
McCutchen and the Pirates have partnered with the City and the Student Conservation Association on the proposed initiative that will give youths the education, tools and support to cultivate an urban garden in Homewood. Fruits and vegetables would be grown and then donated to various non-profit organizations to feed the hungry, including the youths participating in various programs at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA.
"Your vote for the Urban Garden idea could make a huge difference for the many hungry children and families in the City of Pittsburgh," said McCutchen. "Let's rally for this Refresh grant. We are asking all of Pittsburgh to vote early and often to show your support for this idea that will help make a real difference in our community."
The urban garden idea is an extension of the Green Up Pittsburgh Program. In 2007, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl introduced the program to combat the increasing problem of overgrown vacant and abandoned lots in City neighborhoods. The program aims to stabilize City-owned vacant lots with the goals of reducing blight and public safety hazards, inspiring community pride and promoting environmental values. "Through collaborative partnerships and a focus toward connecting our youths with the greening of our City, we've created dozens of urban gardens that serve as places of great community pride," Ravenstahl said. "The City is thrilled to be working with the Pirates on this project. If we generate enough votes to win the grant, the project will teach our youths the importance of hard work, the environment and giving back to their community. The amount of community-building and life-lessons we can teach our young people with a shovel, dirt and fresh produce cannot be calculated."
The Pepsi Refresh Project is a groundbreaking effort to foster innovation in social good that will award more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas that help impact the world. Throughout 2010, Pepsi will fund ideas that will move the world forward in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, the Planet, Neighborhoods and Education. The Pepsi Refresh Project, which launched January 13, features significant social engagement around people and the power of ideas. People are encouraged to submit their ideas and to cast a vote for their favorite ideas at www.refresheverything.com [3].
Source: pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com [4]