Hendrick Motorsports Driver Jimmie Johnson's Idea Nets $100,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to Support Be The Match Foundation

Thought the below could make a great note in your coverage of this weekend's race in Loudon...

The votes are in and more than 500,000 racing fans have spoken: Jimmie Johnson is the winner of a $100,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant that will help Be The Match Foundation provide financial relief to pediatric bone marrow transplant patients. For the past three weeks, Johnson and fellow Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were campaigning for their ideas and fans had the opportunity to vote for the idea they believed should be awarded a grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project. The drivers' passion for their individual ideas was evident and although they didn't receive the most votes, Pepsi will donate a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to both Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to aid in implementing their projects for the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) at Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital and supporting technology needs at Shepherd Elementary School in Mooresville, NC for Earnhardt.


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HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON'S IDEA NETS
$100,000 PEPSI REFRESH GRANT TO SUPPORT BE THE MATCH FOUNDATION

Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Each Receive $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant for Respective Ideas

Purchase, N.Y., June 25, 2010-- After three weeks of intense campaigning and more than 500,000 votes, racing fans have let their voice be heard - Jimmie Johnson's idea to provide financial relief to pediatric bone marrow transplant patients as part of Be The Match Foundation has taken the checkered flag and will receive a $100,000 grant as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.

The drivers' passion for their individual ideas was evident and although they didn't receive the most votes, Pepsi will donate a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to each Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to aid in implementing their projects.

"I'm thrilled that $100,000 will be going to Be The Match Foundation," said Johnson. "This Pepsi Refresh grant will help kids and their families with the overwhelming costs that come with a bone marrow transplant. I'd like to thank everyone who voted -- the support that all of us have seen has been incredible."

The Pepsi Refresh Project is a groundbreaking effort to foster innovation in social good that will award more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas that help impact the world. Throughout 2010, Pepsi will fund ideas that will move the world forward in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods and Education. The Pepsi Refresh Project, which launched Jan. 13, features significant social engagement around people and the power of ideas. People are encouraged to submit their ideas and to cast a vote for their favorite ideas at www.refresheverything.com.

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Media Contacts:

Melisa Tezanos                                                                 Luka Dukich
Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages                      Edelman
914-253-2599                                                                     312-297-6903
melisa.tezanos@pepsico.com                                    Luka.Dukich@Matter-Edelman.com