Starting on May 1st, your votes can help one of several Michigan organization win $250,000 to support their mission.
About the contest:
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Voting begins May 1 and runs through May 31 at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation. The organization with the most votes at the end of the month will win the top prize of $250,000. Organizations with the second and third most votes will receive $150,000 and $100,000 from The Home Depot Foundation.
Stiggy's Dogs:
Stiggy's Dogs is competing during the month of May against nine other finalists for the $250,000 grand prize.
Stiggy's Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that transforms shelter dogs into trained Psychiatric Service Animals for veterans living with post traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries, at no cost to the veteran. Like a guide dogs for the blind, psychiatric service dogs aid people with mental illnesses and traumatic brain injuries.
The dogs are rescued from shelters and taught tasks ranging from reminding veterans to take medicine, waking them up from a nightmare or alarm clock ringing to directing them through a crowd.
Learn more at www.stiggysdogs.org.
"It is such an honor and privilege to be among these finalists," said Jennifer Petre, director and founder of Stiggy's Dogs. "One thing that sets our organization apart from the pack is that by supporting Stiggy's Dogs, you can directly impact military veterans and rescue dogs. It is a win-win for everyone! So we encourage everyone to go on Facebook and vote for us!"
The Michigan Vets Foundation:
The Michigan Veterans Foundation (MVF) is a non-profit agency whose overall objective is to fill the gaps that currently exist in providing services to Michigan's veterans. MVF's main project is the Detroit Veterans Center a transitional housing facility and resource center. The DVC provides the skills and confidence needed for homeless veterans to break the cycle of homelessness and return to independent living. For additional information about the organization, please visit www.michiganveteransfoundation.org.
The 313 Project:
The 313 Project exists to connect the legal community to Detroit's underserved areas through educational, pro bono, and service initiatives. Founded in 2009 by students at Wayne State University Law School, The 313 Project has grown from a small but passionate coalition to a nonprofit whose volunteers have donated thousands of hours to the organization's legal and resource clinics, neighborhood cleanups, park beautifications and community building efforts. Recognizing that the barriers keeping Detroit from thriving must be addressed by holistic, multifaceted solutions, all of The 313 Project's initiatives seek to empower on both an individual level and an environmental level.
"The Aprons in Action grant has not only made our work in support of veterans and underserved communities possible, it has connected us to an invaluable array of volunteers and supportive organizations," said Aisa Villarosa Berg, co-founder and director of The 313 Project. "Winning the $250,000 grant would tremendously aid us in our goal to establish a legal aid and resource center for these underserved groups. So we encourage everyone to go on Facebook and vote for us." For additional information visit wwwthe313project.org.
How To Vote
Find Aprons in Action on The Home Depot Foundation's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation.
Voting is available on computers and mobile device web browsers.
The final percentages of votes for each nonprofit will be posted on The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation's Facebook pages on June 1st.
Other Finalist:
· AMVETS Post 44 (Struthers, OH)
· Low Income Housing Institute (Seattle, WA)
· VFW Post 2777 (Burton, MI)
· Grand Rapids Home for Veterans (Grand Rapids, MI)
· Active Heroes (Louisville, KY)
· Saratoga County RPC-VETHELP (Ballston Spa, NY)