When you think of YDT, you probably don’t think of Pepsi.  But unhealthy beverages aside, the company is doing something so cool that we can’t help but eat it up – the Pepsi Refresh project!

What is Pepsi Refresh?

Did you notice that Pepsi did not have any ads in the Super Bowl this year?  Instead of spending about $20 million in ad campaigns, they are allocating those funds toward the Refresh grants, which are given to “ideas from individuals, non-profits and pro-social businesses that can make a positive impact in the community.”   It’s a social media campaign: whoever gets the most votes – via the Pepsi website, Facebook, Twitter, etc. – wins!  Winning projects have included recycling t-shirts into shopping bags to raise funds for rescued animals, designing “GreenShields” to make school buses fuel-efficient, and using fresh produce to fight childhood obesity in schools.

What’s in it for you?

You, along with 1000 others, can apply each month to win up to $250,000 for your big idea.

How can you get involved to help others?

All you have to do is sign-in and vote.  As an eco-minded website, of course we recommend voting in the “Planet” section.   But since my brother, John, is also a candidate, I have to give a special shout out to his project: rehabilitating an 1860′s neo-gothic stone church into a public contemporary art exhibition space.

Why do I think John’s project is a worthy cause?

• Environment: It can be said that “the greenest building is the one already built”  Plus, the plan includes permaculture initiatives and I’ve heard talk of getting goats to mow the large hill the church sits atop. (You know how much I love goats)

• Historical: Because of under attendance and under funding, many congregations are shutting down church buildings.  So, creative church reuse and revitalization is becoming critical if these structures are not to be preserved.  (see pictures of the church)

• The Arts: The space will allow for engaging exhibitions & performances, and an inspiring home for national & international artists to explore their work.

You can also be sent voting instructions and daily reminders here.

Note on Voting: You may vote up to 10 times per day – 1 vote per project. Whoever gets the most votes wins, so if you really want to support a project (like John’s) it’s great to get in the habit of voting each day . Voting ends on April 30th, you’ve only got a few days left to make your voice count.  (I’ve found the voting button to be a bit glitchy so sometimes you have to press it twice).

Bigger Picture: How do you think this campaign will do for Pepsi?

While I have been visiting their site every day this month to vote, I certainly have not bought a single Pepsi.  And don’t plan on it.  In my ideal world, I wish that Pepsi would combine the grant’s efforts to improve communities with offering healthy products that would improve the lives of people in those communities.  That being said, if my brother does win, I’ll go buy a case of Naked juices to celebrate (which is a Pepsico product don’t yah know).