Today on Snack Chat, we’re excited to share a blog post from guest blogger Mike Messersmith, marketing manager at Frito-Lay, who is on the committee bringing to life this month a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy. Take it away, Mike!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Black History Month always give me an opportunity to pause and think about my community and the people that inspire my passion and creativity. The legacy of Dr. King and the spirit of celebrating the rich diversity and heritage of the African American community in this country is something that should inspire all of us to really think hard about the impact we are making around us. As a Marketing Manager at Frito-Lay, I have the tremendous privilege to channel that passion into our celebration of Black History Month at Frito-Lay/PepsiCo, which I’m helping lead this year.
Last year, we sponsored a Black History Month Arts Contest, in partnership with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), to celebrate the traditions and heritage of the African American community in the arts -- and we’re proud to host it again this year. The 2011 program generated hundreds of submissions from aspiring artists across the country, and the winner received a gallery showcase in his hometown to share his talents with his community, really helping launch his art career.
This year, we’ve made the contest even bigger and better. For example, we’re promoting the contest, accepting submissions and enabling consumer votes via the Frito-Lay Facebook page. This type of promotion provides increased visibility for the contest and allows us to reach a large audience of aspiring artists and consumer voters who can quickly and easily participate and share their favorite works of art with family and friends.
We have also expanded our partnership with the UNCF. This year, we are donating $1 for every vote submitted in the contest up to $35,000. The UNCF does such a great job promoting advancement in the African American community, and Frito-Lay is very proud to have such a fantastic partner in this program. So, we’re excited to be able to support the organization with an increased donation.
Lastly, we’ve expanded the winning artist’s prize package. In addition to a cash award, our winner will receive a featured showcase at the United Negro College Fund’s EMPOWER ME Tour 2012, which brings together highly influential artists, entrepreneurs and thought leaders in the African American community. It will be a fantastic stage to launch an art career!
The window to submit original art is open now through Jan. 15, and consumer voting will begin on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan. 16! You can check out the full rules here. We are very proud of this program and hope our fans embrace it as a way to celebrate the arts in their local communities!
- Mike
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