GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance are teaming up to provide a media room makeover for one deserving elementary or middle school in Kent County or the Thornapple-Kellogg district.

The inaugural Media Room Makeover contest offers eligible schools the opportunity to submit their applications online between now and April 1, 2015 at griffinshockey.com/mediaroommakeover, simply by answering the question “Why does your school need a media room makeover?” and providing an optional photo of their existing media room, computer lab or library. Applications may be submitted by school principals, administrators or teachers.

Depending on the winning school’s needs, its media room makeover could consist of a variety of new resources such as computer hardware, software, books, furniture, paint, carpet and light construction, with a value ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to as much as $10,000-$15,000.

Following the application deadline on April 1, all entries will be reviewed by the Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance and narrowed to a pool of three finalist schools, each of which will receive a site visit as part of the final selection. The Griffins and Farm Bureau will choose the winning school by April 30, assist school officials in the makeover of the school’s media room this summer, then host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the start of the new school year in August or September.

“Michigan is our home, so at Farm Bureau Insurance we’re committed to the communities and the people that make our state a great place to live,” said Vic Verchereau, Farm Bureau Insurance vice president of marketing. “Our initiative, Enriching Michigan’s Children and Communities (E=mc²), supports safe and clean learning environments for our youth while providing opportunities for these future leaders. We are honored to partner with the Grand Rapids Griffins to provide a Kent County school with a makeover opportunity designed to do just that.”

Several partners have signed on to provide assistance with the makeover as needed, including Comprenew and Mike Case of Case Construction. In addition, the Kent Intermediate School District and the Diocese of Grand Rapids Office of Catholic Schools are supporting the contest by communicating the opportunity to every elementary and middle school principal in Kent County, as well as the Thornapple-Kellogg district in Barry County (which is served by KISD). All eligible schools with a need are encouraged to apply.

Official rules and regulations of the contest are available here.

“The Griffins are proud to work with Farm Bureau Insurance on this exciting initiative,” said Tim Gortsema, the team’s senior vice president of business operations. “Our organization and players have long supported local schools through hundreds of visits to read to classes, speak to assemblies and conduct our Stick With School campaign, so this contest is an outgrowth of the Griffins’ commitment to children, education and West Michigan as a whole.”

Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, in its first year as a Griffins corporate partner, was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why they are known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services—life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more—protecting over 565,000 Michigan policyholders.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance are teaming up to provide a media room makeover for one deserving elementary or middle school in Kent County or the Thornapple-Kellogg district.

The inaugural Media Room Makeover contest offers eligible schools the opportunity to submit their applications online between now and April 1, 2015 at griffinshockey.com/mediaroommakeover, simply by answering the question “Why does your school need a media room makeover?” and providing an optional photo of their existing media room, computer lab or library. Applications may be submitted by school principals, administrators or teachers.

Depending on the winning school’s needs, its media room makeover could consist of a variety of new resources such as computer hardware, software, books, furniture, paint, carpet and light construction, with a value ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to as much as $10,000-$15,000.

Following the application deadline on April 1, all entries will be reviewed by the Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance and narrowed to a pool of three finalist schools, each of which will receive a site visit as part of the final selection. The Griffins and Farm Bureau will choose the winning school by April 30, assist school officials in the makeover of the school’s media room this summer, then host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the start of the new school year in August or September.

“Michigan is our home, so at Farm Bureau Insurance we’re committed to the communities and the people that make our state a great place to live,” said Vic Verchereau, Farm Bureau Insurance vice president of marketing. “Our initiative, Enriching Michigan’s Children and Communities (E=mc²), supports safe and clean learning environments for our youth while providing opportunities for these future leaders. We are honored to partner with the Grand Rapids Griffins to provide a Kent County school with a makeover opportunity designed to do just that.”

Several partners have signed on to provide assistance with the makeover as needed, including Comprenew and Mike Case of Case Construction. In addition, the Kent Intermediate School District and the Diocese of Grand Rapids Office of Catholic Schools are supporting the contest by communicating the opportunity to every elementary and middle school principal in Kent County, as well as the Thornapple-Kellogg district in Barry County (which is served by KISD). All eligible schools with a need are encouraged to apply.

Official rules and regulations of the contest are available here.

“The Griffins are proud to work with Farm Bureau Insurance on this exciting initiative,” said Tim Gortsema, the team’s senior vice president of business operations. “Our organization and players have long supported local schools through hundreds of visits to read to classes, speak to assemblies and conduct our Stick With School campaign, so this contest is an outgrowth of the Griffins’ commitment to children, education and West Michigan as a whole.”

Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, in its first year as a Griffins corporate partner, was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why they are known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services—life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more—protecting over 565,000 Michigan policyholders.