Challenge Will Award $200,000 to Hoosier Charities

The Indiana Service Challenge began last week. See if your organization can take part in this contest to benefit Hoosier non-profits. A release has more:

… in the words of Former NBA star Clark Kellogg, “Let’s serve it up Indiana.” Former NBA star Kellogg is vice president for player relations for Pacers Sports & Entertainment and is a spokesperson for this years’ Service Challenge.
 
In 2012, the Indiana Service Challenge gave away $100,000 to local charities. Now in its second year, the stakes have been raised. The Challenge has been expanded so companies statewide have the opportunity to participate and $200,000 in prize money is up for grabs.
 
Companies With A Mission (CWAM), the organization behind the Challenge, will award the prize money to multiple 501(c)(3) charities throughout Indiana. Volunteer teams from the same workplace will serve their charity of choice while having a chance to win prize money for them as well.
 
“We were truly moved by the overwhelming response we received to the Challenge in 2012,” said Mitch Davis, executive director of CWAM. “The heart of service in Indiana is undeniable and we’re excited to expand the Challenge statewide. This is a great opportunity to get involved in your local community while building teamwork and increasing morale at the same time.”
 
To enter the Challenge, teams of co-workers identify a deserving charity and conduct a community service project benefitting that organization. Then, the teams enter the challenge on-line and upload a two-minute video or digital photo slide show of their service day between now and May 10th.
 
A panel of judges will then select the winning entries. Judging is based on how the charity was serviced, how the company team sees serving the charity going forward, and how the charity would utilize the prize money if that team is a winner. Once the panel of judges selects the winners, those teams will be announced at an awards celebration in the beginning of June. 
 
The $200,000 will be distributed among the award-winning teams to the charities served. The genesis of the Service Project Challenge was inspired by Indianapolis-based DEFENDER Direct, which organized an internal Service Challenge with its co-workers in 2011.
 
"Let’s change the water cooler conversation in our offices and workplace! When we go serve as coworkers, we understand each other better and our team performs better," said DEFENDER founder and chief missions officer David P. Lindsey.
 
For additional information on the 2013 Indiana Service Challenge and how to get involved, visit www.cwamservicechallenge.com or call 317-426-6353.