Refresh school program for Valley kids with Pepsi vote

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Organizers of a two-year-old program that teaches character education to elementary school students want to expand it to more children — and need your help to do it.

Lori Valenzisi, a team pastor at Bridge of Hope Church, Glenwood Avenue, has applied for a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh grant to expand the program – called “Superkids” – now offered at Robinwood Lane and West Boulevard Elementary schools in Boardman and at Taft and Williamson Elementary schools in Youngstown.

People can go online through June to www.refresheverything.com/lovethisplace to vote for the program. The top 10 vote-getters in each funding category will receive the money.

“It helps kids learn positive character traits like responsibility, respecting themselves and others, and perseverance,” Valenzisi said.

She employs fun elements such as music, skits, science experiments and magic tricks to get her message across.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com