SEBASTIAN " Sebastian's VFW Post 10210 is one of four December finalists for the Home Depot Foundation "Aprons in Action" award and they're looking for the community's help to win $25,000.
The Post qualified for the program based on a project completed by 15 employees from the Sebastian Home Depot store. In September, Team Depot volunteers created a 40-square-foot walkway to the post's war memorial monument, landscaped and installed solar lighting. The Home Depot Foundation selected VFW Post 10210 as a December finalist.
By being selected to compete, each nonprofit organization receives $5,000. Votes from the public during December will decide which group receives $25,000 more to complete another project with Team Depot volunteers. Eleven winners will be selected for $25,000 each.
In March 2012, Facebook fans will have the chance to help one of those 11 winners win the $250,000 grand prize. The organization that receives the second and third most votes will receive $150,000 and $100,000 from The Home Depot respectively.
VFW Post 10210 Cmdr. Jack Willis said the award will help renovate the Post's headquarters in Sebastian, which is in dire need of repair.
"We have a 50-year-old building and the roof is leaking," said Willis. "If we spend our money on building repairs, we will have less money available for our programs that help veterans and members of the Sebastian community."
Willis said his organization is very active with programs at Sebastian River High School and he's hoping that young people from the school will be willing to vote for the organization on Facebook.
"I'm calling it our 'Giveback to Veterans' program," said Willis. "We have programs for them such as scholarships and since young people are big users of Facebook, I'm hoping they will vote for us."
In the December round of the competition, Sebastian River Area VFW Post 10210 is competing against three other nonprofit organizations from across the country including the Lighthouse Women and Children's Mission in Oxnard, Calif., U.S.VETS in Phoenix, Ariz., and LifeBUILDERS of Detroit.
The Aprons in Action program was created to give Home Depot employees a chance to amplify their interest in their hometowns, foundation president Kelly Caffarelli said in her blog.
"We really believe that social media and philanthropy are a natural fit," said Caffarelli. "We like the idea of getting people to support a cause they feel good about and letting them use our money to do it."
HOW TO VOTE
You can vote for Sebastian's VFW Post 10210 through Dec. 31.
Votes can be cast by going to and selecting VFW Post #10210.
More information about the Aprons in Action program is available at
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