WINNEMUCCA - The Winnemucca Grammar School is asking for the community's vote to purchase a new sound system for its stage.
The Raley's Reach Grant Program is an online grant program, which makes available a total of $50,000 to be granted to schools in partnership with Unilever.
In all, five regions are represented in the contest, including Nevada, northern California, central California, the San Francisco Bay area, and the Sacramento area. Winnemucca Grammar School is the only Humboldt County school nominated from the Nevada region.
"And we need our community's help," said WGS first-grade teacher Sandy Cipra, who is heading up the voting effort.
The contest uses an online, democratic voting process, allowing supporters of each project to vote once a day until Aug. 31. The school in each region with the most votes by the end of August will receive $10,000 to be applied toward the project of their choice.
Mrs. Cipra said the Winnemucca Grammar School has tried for the grant funding for many years but has never succeeded in amassing the most votes.
"But this year it looks like we have a pretty good shot because we only have 10 competitors in the Nevada region and so far we're doing well, but it's really close."
She said the school has secured a bid for $16,000 to retrofit its stage with new sound equipment. The system would make it easier for students to hear theatre performances as well as to create their own productions. Many other community concerns would also benefit, including the annual Missoula Children's Theatre performances, which use the school's stage each summer.
Cipra said students at the Winnemucca Grammar School-the majority of whom are on free and reduced breakfast and lunch-do not have the opportunity to travel to Reno for cultural experiences.
"This sound system would make it possible to bring these experiences to them," she said. "This grant would go a long ways towards realizing our goal."
Local residents may cast their vote on behalf of the Winnemucca Grammar School once daily through Aug. 31, 2012. Please visit www.raleys.com and click the "Raley's Reach" icon located at the top center of the home page. Residents will need to complete a one-time brief registration in order to begin voting.
For more information on the Winnemucca Grammar School's bid to win the Nevada region "Raley's Reach Grant Program," please contact Sandy Cipra via email at scipra@humboldt.k12.nv.us.
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