NO APRIL FOOL'S JOKE: APRIL 1 LAST CALL TO RECEIVE $100,000, $25,000, $10,000 AND $5,000 PEPSI REFRESH PROJECT GRANTS

Act fast - only the first 300 idea submissions get through!

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 24 /CNW/ - This is no April Fool's joke, Canada - April 1 marks the last chance for a shot at $100,000, $25,000, $10,000 and $5,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grants to fund ideas that promote positive social change in your community.

Since the launch of the Pepsi Refresh Project less than one year ago, the movement has generated 1500 idea submissions from individuals and organizations passionate about doing good.

"When we introduced the Pepsi Refresh Project, our hope was to inspire Canadians to do good and give back to their community. Little did we anticipate, that it was us who were going to be inspired by the rewarding stories and great ideas submitted by Canadians looking to refresh the world. As the nation's number one cola brand, Pepsi thanks Canadians for creating a movement - the Pepsi Refresh Project has become one of the largest corporate social responsibility initiatives in history," said Robb Hadley, Director of Enjoyment and Transformation, PepsiCo Beverages Canada.

The winning ideas have been determined solely by Canadians who voted online at the refresheverything.ca website. Since July 2010, the grant program has received more than 2.5 million votes!

To date, the Pepsi Refresh Project has given away over $800,000 to nearly 40 finalists including:

• $100,000 to fund a national summer camp program
• $25,000 to help a 12-year-old boy build a playground in a remote northern community
• $25,000 to help a group of music enthusiasts travel across Canada and professionally record undiscovered young artists
• $10,000 to fund an artistic training studio
• $5,000 for a student who is taking a stand by creating an anti-bullying documentary, and more!

The final round of the Pepsi Refresh Project opens at 12 p.m. on Friday, April 1. Only the first 300 ideas will have an opportunity to participate, so act fast!

The Pepsi Refresh Project is now entering its sixth and final cycle. PepsiCo Canada will continue to evolve our quest to 'refresh' Canadians and their communities, and will be unveiling a number of new and exciting opportunities throughout 2011. Make sure to follow us on Facebook for the latest news.

Pepsi Refresh Project
In an effort to support those who generate innovative, optimistic ideas, the Pepsi Refresh Project (refresheverything.ca) will have awarded more than $1 million since June 2010 to move communities forward. Beginning June 1, 2010, individuals and organizations were able to apply for grants to benefit a variety of projects, with site visitors voting for the best ideas for funding. The Pepsi Refresh Project is an evolution of the Joy It Forward initiative Pepsi launched in 2009, which showed the brand as an optimistic catalyst for idea creation. Pepsi has been funding projects that make a difference in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighbourhoods and Education.

PepsiCo Canada and the Pepsi Brand
PepsiCo's businesses in Canada are organized into two business units. PepsiCo Foods Canada includes Frito Lay Canada and the Quaker Foods & Snacks business.  PepsiCo Beverages Canada includes Pepsi-Cola Canada, Gatorade and Tropicana.  The Pepsi Brand has been bringing fun and refreshment to Canadian consumers for over 75 years. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.ca.

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About PepsiCo
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.