LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Bethel Manor Elementary School recently requested a $25,000 grant through the Pepsi Grant Challenge in an effort to create a book of memories for its military parents and children.
The catch? In order to receive the "Create an album honoring military heroes: We call them Mom and Dad" grant, parents must visit http://www.refresheverything.com/parentsasheroes# to cast a vote via phone text message, Facebook accounts or registering for a Pepsi account between now and Aug. 1.
Essentially, the grant will provide funding for 451 professionally bound albums, complete with professional photographs of parents and children, and narratives, poems or stories written by the children. In addition, the school will invite parents to a ceremony in their honor where they will receive entertainment and their copy of the album.
"Specifically, my idea will help children at our school honor their military hero - their parents," said William Vannan, BMES assistant principal and grant coordinator. "One thing that might surprise people about my idea is it will honor all families at our school because our population is 100 percent military."
In keeping with the school mission "to provide effective instructional programs and services in all areas to equitably meet the educational needs of all of our students, and continually strive to maximize the potential development of each student intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally through effective and appropriate practices," Mr. Vannan is committed to seeing the project through to completion if the grant is approved.
"The hardest part about carrying out my idea might be coordinating the picture taking as parents may be deployed during the year," he said. "But I'll keep myself (and/or my team) motivated by, knowing this album will be meaningful to all families at our school forever."
Once again, parents can vote up to five times a day with one account every day through Aug. 1. Vote via email accounts, Facebook accounts, Twitter accounts and phone text messaging (Text 107383 to 73774). In addition, parents can get up to 100 extra power votes each day through a "power vote" code on the caps of specially marked Pepsi bottles,12 packs and 24 packs.