The Pepsi Refresh Project is helping budding philanthropists and entrepreneurs get their projects off the ground or expand their already-successful programs.

Sponsored by PepsiCo, groups nominate themselves for $5,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $250,000 grants. They post their project overview and a breakdown of how they would spend the money on the Pepsi Refresh website, and then people vote on the website for their favorite projects. Projects vary from providing backpacks with school supplies to school kids in the gulf region to providing mental health services and creating jobs for oil spill victims.

One of the cool parts about the Pepsi Refresh Project is how Pepsi reached out to the YouTube community in spreading word about the Pepsi Refresh Project. YouTube stars like Michael Buckley, Lisa Nova, and the Fine Bros all made videos promoting their favorite projects. Michael Buckley of the What the Buck? show did a video promoting the Sparkle Effect, a special needs cheerleading squad that received a $25,000 grant. For Buckley, Sparkle Effect was a project that spoke to his heart having spent years working with special needs individuals, and as he was the school mascot in high school, he knows how fun and rewarding being part of something like a cheer squad is for teenagers.

Click below to watch Michael Buckley’s video for the Sparkle Effect, and go to http://www.refresheverything.com to read about the winning projects and initiatives.