NY and VT Non-Profits Named Top 10 Finalists for MVP Project Go Contest

Schenectady, NY (PRWEB) February 16, 2014

With nearly 100,000 votes cast, ten non-profit organizations from throughout New York and Vermont were named Top 10 finalists for MVP Project Go and will each be awarded a $2,500 grant for their healthy projects.

In November, MVP Health Care launched the “post and vote” social media campaign Project Go at http://www.mvpprojectgo.com. More than 100 project entries were received, which ranged from building a playground to planting a community garden, from constructing a nature path to mentoring young people.

“MVP Project Go is a perfect demonstration of how to harness the power of social media in an effort to raise visibility of the many worthwhile organizations and their projects,” said Denise V. Gonick, MVP Health Care® President and CEO. “MVP Project Go is a celebration of the organizations that make a significant impact on the quality of life in our local communities. I am proud to recognize all of the finalists and their commitment toward building healthier communities.”

The Top 10 finalists (in alphabetical order by project name) are:

Project: Healthy Parenting = Healthy Families, Lamoille Family Center, Morrisville, VT
For thirty-seven years the Lamoille Family Center has encouraged, educated and celebrated families. Its parent education program is one of many services for families and children from birth to age twenty-two throughout the Lamoille Valley.

Project: Highgate Arena Renovation Project, Missisquoi Amateur Hockey Association, Highgate Center, VT
Based at the Highgate Arena, the Missisquoi Amateur Hockey Association, serving youth with hockey camps, clinics and tournaments in the Missisquoi Valley is launching a fundraising effort to cover the costs of renovating their home ice rink.

Project: Keep on Kickin’, Rotterdam Youth Soccer Club, Rotterdam, NY
The Rotterdam Youth Soccer Club, an organization dedicated to helping children and young adults grow as individuals and learn to work as a team through the game of soccer will use the MVP Project Go grant toward a scholarship fund for players who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate.

Project: Medicine for the Homeless, Capital City Rescue Mission, Albany, NY
Dedicated to serving the homeless and needy of the Capital Region, the Capital City Rescue Mission will be able to extend free clinic hours, expand services and offer free prescriptions to those who would otherwise not be able to obtain medical treatment.

Project: Monroe Milers, New Life Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY
Monroe Milers is an outreach effort that focuses on children, troubled youth and their families in the Upper Monroe Avenue neighborhood. It provides an introduction to running and includes training and coaching for community walks and runs.

Project: Natural Outdoor Play Space, Schenectady Jewish Community Center, Niskayuna, NY
The Jewish Community Center, serves diverse populations of Schenectady, Albany and Saratoga Counties and will expand the current roster of services, including the fitness center and classes and family activities with the construction of a new outdoor play space.

Project: Patriot Pink Out: Kickin’ It for the Cure, Broadalbin-Perth Soccer Club, Broadalbin, NY
For more than five years, the Broadalbin-Perth Soccer Club varsity and junior varsity teams (decked out in pink soccer uniforms) have hosted a soccer tournament that helps raise money for the American Cancer Society – an event they will host again this year with the help of the MVP Project Go grant.

Project: Playground re-vamp, Morningside Shelter, Brattleboro, VT
For more than 30 years, Morningside Shelter has helped those in need of housing and will create a space where children can develop their imaginative skills, build physical and emotional strength, develop confidence, and stay healthy with regular physical activity.

Project: Remembrance Park and Garden, Maddie’s Mark Foundation, Guilderland, NY
Maddie’s Mark Foundation, which enables children and families to live a life of 'best days ever' will be creating a playground and a Remembrance Garden at Juraka Park in Rotterdam. It will be a beautiful place to play, reflect and share the stories of children in the community who are no longer here.

Project: Winter Training, Albany Rowing Center, Albany, NY
Located on the Hudson River in downtown Albany, the Albany Rowing Center’s winter training prepares young adults and adults for spring competition and improves athleticism and rowing potential for non-competitive adults.

The MVP Project Go Contest grand prize winner will receive the opportunity to host a special fundraising event featuring MVP's wellness ambassador, Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach. The grand prize winner, to be announced by February 17, will be selected from the Top 10 by a panel of judges from an independent organization, based on the following criteria: Passion for the project - overall submission (30% of total score), project contributes to creating a healthier community (30% of total score), idea is creative and powerful (20% of total score), project has longevity (10% of total score), and project is inspiring (10% of total score).

Based on schedules, the winning organization’s fundraiser event with Abby Wambach will be held later in the year.
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About MVP Health Care
Founded in 1983, MVP Health Care is a community-focused, not-for-profit health insurer serving members in the states of New York and Vermont. Through its operating subsidiaries, MVP Health Care provides fully insured and self-funded employer health benefits plans, dental insurance, and ancillary products such as flexible-spending accounts, to more than 613,000 members, with a regional network of 19,000 health care providers, as well as providing access to a national network of more than 500,000 health care providers. For more information, visit http://www.mvphealthcare.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mvphealthcare, and on Twitter at @MVPHealthCare.

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