Gilda's Club NNJ Aims for $50K Grant Through "Pepsi Refresh Project"
FROM: The Marcus Group Contact: Overlook at Great Notch, 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, NJ
Kaitlyn Sweeney, (973) 890-9590
Immediate Release – March 1, 2010
HACKENSACK, NJ – Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey is facing a unique challenge this month; a nationwide Pepsi challenge.
In an effort to obtain funding to support a new, mobile outreach program, Gilda’s Club NNJ applied for a $50,000 grant through PepsiCo’s “Pepsi Refresh Project” – and the public will determine the outcome.
This year, instead of advertising in the Super Bowl, Pepsi launched the social campaign to give away millions of dollars in grants each month to fund projects nationwide that will make a positive impact in the community. However, grants lie in the hands of online voters, so organizations are relying on friends, family and supporters to make their project a reality.
As of March 1, the “Gilda’s Club Cancer Support Squad” project is up for public vote at www.Refresheverything.com/cancersupportsquad.
“There are 1,330 new cases of cancer diagnosed everyday in New Jersey, and there are countless people in need of support,” said Ruth Dugan, board president of Gilda’s Club NNJ. “If selected, this project would help us create a mobile cancer support program to reach underserved populations that live too far from our clubhouse in Hackensack and are in need of cancer support.”
The “Gilda’s Club Cancer Support Squad” would enable Gilda’s Club’s social workers and volunteers to travel to communities that do not have access to the clubhouse and essentially bring their in-house programs - such as weekly wellness groups, workshops, networking groups and social events - to various locations.
“This grant would help us provide more people in need with a refuge from the physical, emotional and financial turmoil of cancer,” said Dugan.
Additionally, the $50,000 grant would help purchase two fuel-efficient vans, pay for the printing of outreach materials needed to conduct programs, and cover the costs of registration, auto insurance and gas for a year.
Dugan added that since the nonprofit’s financial backing comes primarily from private donations and special event fundraising, the “Pepsi Refresh Project” presents a unique opportunity for the organization to seek a new source of funding to jumpstart a new community initiative.
“It only takes a minute to vote! This project would help extend our reach and allow us to help so many more people in need of support,” said Dugan.
Online users can vote once per day for the entire month and are encouraged to tell their friends, too. The top 10 projects in each grant category ($5,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $250,000) will win the corresponding amount.
To vote for the “Gilda’s Club Cancer Support Squad” project, visit www.Refresheverything.com/cancersupportsquad. More information about Gilda’s Club NNJ is available at www.gildasclubnnj.org, Gilda’s Club NNJ’s Facebook page or by calling (201) 457-1670.
About Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey:
Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey is a cancer-support community serving 12 counties in North Jersey as well as southern Rockland County, and is part of an international network of affiliate clubhouses anchored by Gilda’s Club Worldwide. All services at the Hackensack-based clubhouse, from lectures and workshops to support groups and social events, are open to anyone – men, women, children and teens – who has been touched in any way by cancer, and are completely free of charge. For further information or to make a donation, visit http://www.gildasclubnnj.org or call (201) 457-1670.