Schools

L'Anse Creuse Misses $25K Grant in Pepsi Refresh Project

The L'Anse Creuse district's proposal in the grant competition did not receive enough votes to make it eligible to receive the $25,000 grant.

When the ended, the proposal submitted by L’Anse Creuse Schools fell short of the top-10 ranking required to receive the $25,000 grant awarded its category in the competition.

Participating in both the and January legs of the competition, the district’s “Seniors Helping Seniors” proposal finished 26th overall when voting ended on Jan. 31.

“While we were disappointed to not receive funding, we were excited about how building an alliance with other educators across the country impacted the results,” said Michelle Irwin, L'Anse Creuse senior director for community relations and programs.

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Although L’Anse Creuse depended largely on the votes of staff, parents and students, by forming partnerships with groups in other monetary categories, the district was able to increase the number of votes cast toward its proposal.

Because each individual was allowed 10 votes per day, L’Anse Creuse supporters were able to vote for their own district’s proposal in addition to the proposals of nine other groups. By the same rule, supporters of other proposals voted for L’Anse Creuse.

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“Through this alliance of nine projects, two received funding that hadn't the month previously, and we moved from a place in the mid-50s to low 20s placement,” Irwin said.

Unfortunately, only the top 10 vote-getters in each monetary category are eligible to receive a grant.

While L’Anse Creuse had planned to use the grant to supplement the cost of various classes and services it provides free of charge to low-income community members, the district has been able to continue some of these classes and services without the financial assistance of the grant.

Fewer of these types of classes are offered, but Irwin said the district will pursue other grants and forms of financial assistance to ensure these types of programs continue.

“We are looking at our options and will make a decision as to whether we will proceed with this group in the April campaign,” Irwin said.


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