Pepsi Grant Challenge

The Pepsi Refresh Project began in January 2010.  Each month, Pepsi awards $1.3 million to people, businesses and non-profits nation-wide with ideas that will have a positive impact in the community.  Only the ideas with the most public votes at the end of the month receive funding.

The “Donate Life” Bus is a 40’ mobile coach bus with five donation beds and multiple screening areas.  The Bus has the ability to collect whole blood and double-red cell blood products and can accommodate up to 80 donors per blood drive.  The Bus will have free health screenings and wellness materials for the public.  With this bus, UNYTS would be able to collect 4,000 more units of blood per year for Western New York residents!

In just a matter of hours, since voting began, the “Donate Life” Bus idea has jumped from 300^th place to 182^nd.

UNYTS is encouraging all Western New Yorkers to vote for the “Donate Life” Bus every single day throughout the month of August. Voters must log-in to http://www.RefreshEverything.com/unyts to vote.  If UNYTS is one of the top two ideas with the most votes on August 31, the organization will receive the grant for $250,000.  Finalists will be announced September 1.

Since beginning collections in June 2007, UNYTS has already become the primary supplier of blood products for the six hospitals in Niagara and Wyoming Counties, and for the entire Kaleida Health System.  By giving blood with UNYTS you are making sure your family, friends, neighbors and other members of the community have blood available when they need it.