Voting set to end in Pepsi Refresh contest

Staff report

Austintown

There are just three days left to vote for November’s Pepsi Refresh Grant participants.

This month, Austintown Schools has two organizations competing for $50,000 grants.

The newest grant proposal for $50,000 would maintain the safe and drug-free program in the district. Federal grant funding for the programs ended in June, and Peggy Bennett, district coordinator for safe and drug-free programs, hopes to find another way to fund Austintown’s programs.

If the school doesn’t win this grant, Bennett doesn’t know how the program will exist.

The district works to educate students on topics of safety; decision making; conflict management; the negative effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; and other aspects of healthy emotional development, through such programs according to the grant proposal.

To vote for the drug-free grant, text 103905 to Pepsi at 73774 or vote online at www.refresheverything.com/ safeanddrugfreeschoolsohioaustintownschools. The proposal was ranked 234th in its category as of Friday.

Channel 19 is in its third month of competing for a $50,000 grant that would help to improve the student TV station. Channel 19 has ranked in the top 100 grants for the past two months to roll over into the next month.

To vote for Channel 19, text 102417 to Pepsi at 73774 or vote online at www.refresheverything.com/austintownchannel19. Channel 19 was ranked 243rd as of Friday.