Pepsi Refresh Project Round Two

Well we ended at 39. (Last time we were at 57) The whole process is very time consuming and really is an experiment in social media.

Just because you ask them to vote doesn't mean they will. Pepsi also does not make the voting process fast. You are often taken around in circles on the website before you vote is actually cast.

Devereux is once again automatically entered into the contest for the month of August since we are in the top 100. Please check our page out on the Pepsi Refresh website. We received over 20,000 votes in two months but more importantly was the awareness the whole process gave our center.

Pepsi Refresh Project Round Two

Just a quick up date. . .
We are hovering in the thirties. A respectable number but not high enough to win the money. It has however given our NPO the opportunity to speak on the radio and receive some air time with a Public Service Announcement.
So we are plugging away and enjoying all the publicity that comes along with participating.
Please consider using the link at the top of the blog and to vote today.

Pepsi Refresh Project Round Two

Just when I thought this chapter in my fundraising life was over the email came. The top 100 in each dollar category is resubmitted into the competition automatically. I guess if your supporters just get tired of the process then you get less votes, don't reach the top 100, and after a month you are removed.

Well at Devereux it took us the first week in June just to get started. Almost every day we moved up a few notches in the rankings to a respectable 57. I thought that was it and then I received the dreaded email. We were put back in the competition. I write dreaded using a little humor. Win or lose many more people know about Devereux. And since we are a national organization that is a lot of people talking and emailing about our NPO across the country.

Sure we would love the $250,000. At a time of high unemployment it would be nice to hire new staff. We have designated $92,000 of the grant to staff salaries. Not to mention all the good we are doing for students with Autism and developmental disabilities.

Back to the Pepsi Project. We are now at 38 in the rankings. With the Fourth of July holiday upon us I have a little concern with where our ranking will be on Tuesday. I am encouraged because many employees have asked me to remind them through email to vote.

I was out last night and we were talking about the process. Mostly how confusing it is to vote. But I reached a few more people this time and earlier in the process so we shall see.

If you are interested in learning more about the Pepsi Refresh Project click the link at the top of this blog. Be sure to Vote for Devereux Pocono Center under Education 250K while you are there. Thanks

Pepsi Refresh Project Final Report

58 that is the number we ended at. My understanding is that if we had reached 30 we would have been asked to participate again. Instead we have to resubmit our request.

The over all experience was pretty positive. We can now see the value of twitter, facebook, blogging and linkedin. It was hard to tell how many votes we received using social media but I am sure that what we did get helped us to increase our ranking.

The one really nice thing about the Pepsi Refresh Project are the comments at the bottom of every entrants page. Different organizations were helping each other vote and there were many comments about our program. All good and encouraging. Our You Tube video reached almost 500 hits.

There was a little work involved and the voting process is definitely confusing but all well worth the effort, even if we didn't get the 250K.

Pepsi Refresh Project Update

Well we have just 8 days left and everyone is coming alive. I have helped more people register to vote in the last three days than in the last month. Devereux Pocono is ranked 87th. Remember we we trying to get to 1 or 2.

Four months ago when I submitted our grant request is all seemed so simple. I work for a parent company that has 6000 employees. I sent over 2000 emails with the help of our local chamber. I went through my email list at work and home. Anytime someone sent me a "junk" email I sent them a request to vote email back. And all their friends got the same request.

I used Facebook, linkedin, twitter and this blog to get the word out. The race is not over and we are at a respectful 87, but darn it I want to be number 2.

We are trying to expand our School to Community Transition program for folks with Autism and Developmental Disabilities. I am getting beat by a school that wants to build a wight room! well that just goes to show you that this contest is about reaching as many people as possible. You have to send out a lot of emails before you get a few votes.

Now that we are on the last half of the contest I can see the staff rallying together to vote and cheer us to the top. It is nice to feel like your co-workers are right there with you in this race. We have many wonderful comments about our center and I hope just the right person reads the information or watches the You Tube video and feels the compassion to give. Even if we don't get the $250,000 we still are winners.

Pepsi Refrsh Project Update

Today I stopped by a couple of buildings where we have day programs.  I brought a 12 pack of Pepsi and offered everyone a Pepsi that let me help them register.  I also showed them how to sign in tomorrow.  I hope it helped.  I probably registered a dozen folks.  We are now at 103.  Quite a jump from 279 where we started 15 days ago.  I think it is time to send out another round of emails to my personal friends. Do I have any left?  I have been grabbing people off the street to vote.  And we still only dropped a few places.  this is a little tougher than I thought it would be.  Butnot ready to give up yet.  The excitement at the office is catching on and we are getting some wonderful comments about our center. http://www.refresheverything.com/schooltocommunitytransition    Keep voting!!!!

Pepsi Refresh Project

Well with only 19 days left we are holding our own at 115. I know we have a long way to go but we didn't drop back on Friday afternoon so that means at least some of the people that received my email are voting over the weekend. I have faith we can still win this thing. One of the hardest parts is not knowing how many more votes we need to catch up to the number one or two spot.
I encourage everyone viewing this blog to click the link at the top of the page and vote for Devereux You must log in and then vote. A little tricky but a nice way to contribute without spending a dime.

Pepsi Refresh Project

Just a quick update to tell everyone that on day 8 we have made it to 149. Still moving toward number one. I didn't send a reminder email out and the votes seem to have slowed down. Not to fear I will have a new email waiting for all Devereux employees in the morning. Hopefully everyone will see the importance of their vote. and get on the bandwagon.
You can also help by voting using the link at the top of this blog. The funds will help Devereux to expand its School to Work Transition program for folks with Autism and developmental disabilities.

Pepsi Refresh Project

Sorry no posts for a few days. I have been busy with this Pepsi Refresh Project. This is a wonderful idea for Pepsi. They get millions of people talking about them and they give lots of money away so that is good for the community.
Here is how it works. NPO's, businesses and just anyone with an idea creates a proposal online. You can add photos and videos. Once that is complete you wait til the last day of the month. At midnight you submit your request. Pepsi chooses over one thousand entries in four dollar amounts, $5,000, $25,000, #50,000, and $250,000.
There are categories such as education, neighborhood, etc.
It took me three months to get picked to compete. I was so excited about this opportunity, I work for a national organization with over 7,000 employees. This should be a piece of cake.
If only it was. . . After just 5 days this project has taken its toll. Here are some of the things I learned.
1. Just because I send an email requesting that the recipient votes doesn't mean people are going to jump on the bandwagon and vote.
2. You have to get a momentum going at the start and keep it going through out the month.
3. This is all about social media. You should have your face book, blog, website ready to go and filled with members.
4. There is a lot of competition out there.
5. Even with 7,000 emails we jumped from 219 to 171 in the rankings. Sounds wonderful but will not be enough to win.

I will let you know how we progress as the month goes on. . .