My fellow Americans,

We are two playoff games away from deciding the participants of Super Bowl XLIV.   Are you excited?  I know I am.  Well, as long as the Jets are not involved.  But I digress…

Equally synonymous with the game itself, as you all know, are the commercials.  Companies pay a pretty penny to put their products on display and interrupt your bathroom breaks or beer runs.  Each year tends to bring out the usual players – a few beer companies, the soft drink conglomerates, cell phone carriers, financial institutions and the lot.  Last I checked, thirty-second spots were going for around two and a half million dollars, but there seems no shortage of takers, even in a down year.

Pepsi Refresh Project

That being said, the lineup in 2010 is devoid of one of its long-running contributors; Pepsi.  Instead, the corporate giant has decided on very different marketing campaign, one that I think is quite admirable of them.  Rather than battle it out with Coke on TV spots, Pepsico has turned their focus on a cause-centered campaign they call The Pepsi Refresh Project.  Each month, they will be accepting 1000 submissions from you (the general public) on how you can make a positive impact in your community with their financial assistance.  There are going to be millions of dollars given out, in increments from $5,000 to $250,000, the winners of each award being decided by online voters.  If you have ever wanted to dream big and make a difference, here is your chance for sponsorship!  Listed categories for submission include Health, Neighborhoods, The Planet, Education, Arts & Culture and Food & Shelter.

If you are up for the challenge and make a submission, please tell us here at DoGoodedness so we can let our readers know to vote for your idea!   Email me at Matt@DoGoodedness.com!

Disney’s “Give a Day, Get a Day”

Another idea that I am very pleased with is Disney’s “Give a Day, Get a Day” campaign.  If you have Kids, they probably are quite fond of Disney World.  Heck, I am quite fond of it myself.  It may very well be the happiest place on earth.

The process is simple – volunteer your time with a registered program participant and Disney will give you a free day to one of their theme parks.   One might think that the parameters of this would have to be quite specific, but a quick search near my area code turned up a bevy of qualifying service opportunities.

Click this Link to get started.  I highly recommend a visit to Epcot Center.  Where else can you have a margarita in Mexico, ride the log flume in Norway, and take a nap in the Hall of Presidents in a day?

After a year that had too many front-page stories featuring “corporate greed,” it is wonderful to see that doing good can be a marketable concept.

Have a great week!

Matt

Photo by beatnickside via Flickr