GREENE – Those spearheading the effort to build a memorial in honor of the 13 killed in the tragic shooting at the American Civic Association in April 2009 have raised over $125,000 for their cause since January. They are hoping to add another $50,000 to their coffers by lobbying, not for donations, but for votes as they vie for funding through the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Each month, the multinational corporation best known for its signature soft-drink distributes upwards of $1.3 million through the philanthropic project. According to the Pepsi Refresh website, 1,096 ideas have been submitted for the current round of funding, for which voting began on Dec. 1.

As of this morning, the group’s “idea” ranked 15 among those competing in the $50,000 category.

“We need to be in the Top Ten by midnight, December 31 in order to win,” explained David Marsland of Greene, who serves as the project coordinator for the ACA Memorial Park Committee.