Players Campaign for Pepsi Refresh Project Ideas Prior to Hitting the World Stage
Purchase, N.Y., May 21, 2010 — In advance of their departure for South Africa next month, three U.S. Men’s National Team stars, Clint Dempsey, Stuart Holden and Tim Howard, are asking soccer fans everywhere to join them in making a difference in helping to refresh the world. Fans can cast their votes at: www.ussoccer.com/PepsiRefresh for whichever player’s idea they believe should receive a grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project.
Each player has outlined an idea for a project that’s important to them:
Dempsey: raising awareness and support for people with brain aneurysms
Holden: improving the quality of life for cancer treatment patients at Texas Children’s Hospital
Howard: working with people suffering from Tourette syndrome, a condition with which he is afflicted
Fans will have until June 12 at 11:59 p.m. EST to cast their votes. The idea which receives the most fan votes will be awarded $50,000 in support of their idea.
Dempsey’s idea will establish a chair of research at the Brain Aneurysm Foundation in the name of his sister, who passed away of a brain aneurysm, as well as fund the production and distribution of educational, awareness, and support materials across the U.S. and worldwide. The Foundation is the nation’s only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures.
“Losing my sister was devastating,” says Dempsey. “More research is needed to help prevent brain aneurysm ruptures. With the support of soccer fans and the Pepsi Refresh Project, we would be able to fund important research projects to better understand and combat this condition.”
Holden, in support of his existing foundation, Holden’s Heroes, is looking to renovate playrooms for child cancer patients at Texas Children’s Hospital and provide financing to fund field trips.
“We represent the U.S. on the field, but the real heroes are these cancer patients fighting for their lives each and every day,” says Holden. “These children deserve to get out and have some fun, and with the Pepsi Refresh Project grant and the votes of our fans, together we can make that happen.”
Howard’s goal is to help those with Tourette syndrome, a disease from which he suffers, through support for the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome. The grant would help establish an advocacy academy for the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome, and expand their family retreat weekends.
“As many as 1 in 100 kids have Tourette syndrome – most of them undiagnosed, misdiagnosed and misunderstood,” says Howard. “With the Pepsi Refresh Project grant we can make a difference and help provide much needed resources for these children and their families.”
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=aXpAec_IiJY for a video of all three players discussing their ideas.
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 Jan. 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.
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