Lately, many conversations often focus on ways to give back to the community. This is likely due to the economy, news of unemployment, the recent events in Haiti – among other things. Many have the eagerness to get involved and help out. Maybe this will help you get started! This year, Pepsi can help make ideas come to life. I introduce you to the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Pepsi is giving away $20+ million dollars to fund projects that help make communities better. As many already know, Pepsi opted not to advertise during the Superbowl this year. Instead, they invested significant resources to support meaningful engagements. Pepsi wants to hear what needs they can help fulfill for you and your community. Both projects large and small, such as upgrading a playground; new lights in a neighborhood; library in need of new computers… you get the idea.

Each month, you have the opportunity to submit a project in one of six categories:

Then, at the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions (on their website) and let the public vote on who should win. Grant will range from $5,000 to $250,000 (totaling up to $1.3 million dollars!) Sounds fantastic, right??

Get involved beginning today, February 1. If you have an idea for an improvement you’d like to see in your community, submit it for consideration for the March round.

You can also visit RefreshEverything.com and vote for your favorite submissions for February’s grants.

There are many fun creative, unique and meaningful ways to give back and this project is an awesome idea. Kudos to Pepsi.

Check out the video on how a soda CAN and WILL make a difference:

So, what are you waitin’ for – tell Pepsi how they can make a difference for YOU and YOUR community! Get tips and more here.

I leave you with a few excerpts from Lauren Lauren Hobart, CMO of Sparking Brands at Pepsi:

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.

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.

Disclosure: I wrote this participating in a 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.

I wanted to get the word out before I get so busy with Christmas, coming up.
A world-famous and award-winning celebrity photographer, Me Ra Koh, takes incredible pride in empowering women. Me Ra has been featured Oprah, VH1’s Fabulous Weddings and Martha Stewart TV shows. She also created the SOAR! Scholarship which recently begun (Dec 1st). This Scholarship breathes hope and encouragement into people around the nation. It allows three women to have their photography dreams come true by helping them build their own photography business. Isn’t that great? The three scholarship winners will receive camera equipment from SONY, software from Adobe, ShootQ, and SHOWIT. Also, SmugMug will design websites and blogs for those winners. Wow. In addition to all that (as if it wasn’t enough) the three women will receive mentoring from Me Ra and other industry leaders on launching a successful photography business. How awesome is that?

In the 12 months following the announcement (of the winners), each will document their journey through photos, blog posts, videos, etc. All of these wonderful tools and advice provide three deserving women the opportunity to pursue and achieve their photography dreams! Seein’ how I host a weekly PhotoHunt, I thought this may be of interest to many of you. This wonderful program can empower and enlighten young women throughout our nation. Giving young women hope and encouragement allows them to thrive emotionally and physically.

Each SOAR! Scholarship applicant must complete a brief online application (requires personal & family info), a summary of what makes photography your passion and your time and travel commitments. Applicants must also submit a two-minute video explaining why they are worthy of receiving the SOAR! Scholarship. The entire application process proves fast and easy, and all information and FAQs can be found within the SOAR! Scholarship website. Hope someone benefits from this

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the SOAR! Scholarship and Me Ra Koh Photography. In addition, I received an Amazon gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate

Father’s Day is just around the corner. Simply spending fun time with Dad proves a much better gift than a fancy gadget or tacky tie, ya know. This year why don’t you create a day together doing something that Dad likes. How about headin’ to your local Wendy’s for an after-dinner Frosty? It will support a worthy charitable cause!

For the past three years, Wendy’s has made it a Father’s Day Frosty Weekend tradition to donate 50 cents from the sale of each Frosty to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The money raised goes to the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, which funds full-time adoption recruiters at local agencies across the U.S., who in turn pair up parents with foster care children needing homes. So, you and your family can enjoy a tasty (and affordable!) Frosty together, knowing this campaign assists children across the country in finding a family of their own.

BTW, your kids can even create a Father’s Day eCard on FrostyCard.com and for every card they send, Wendy’s will donate an additional 25 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation. Kids can attach coupons for “taking out the trash” or “washing the car” onto the cards for Dad, too!

Just spreadin’ the news… hopefully many will listen

Thanks MC for the tip!