GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – For the fourth consecutive year, the Grand Rapids Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan will provide a media room makeover for one deserving elementary or middle school in West Michigan.

The fourth annual Media Room Makeover contest offers schools in Kent County, Ottawa County, Allegan County and the Thornapple-Kellogg district the opportunity to submit their applications online between now and April 6, 2018 at griffinshockey.com/mediaroommakeover, simply by answering the question “Why does your school need a media room makeover?” and providing a photo of their existing media room, computer lab or library. One application may be submitted for each school, either by its principal or the principal’s designee.

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 up to $15,000.

Following the application deadline on April 6, 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. The two runner-up schools will each receive $250 toward upgrading the amenities of their current media rooms.

The previous winners of the Media Room Makeover contest were New Branches Charter Academy (2017), Ken-O-Sha Park Elementary School (2016) and the Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center (2015).

"The Media Room Makeover contest is one of our favorite events each year,” said Vic Verchereau, vice president of marketing for Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. “We believe in giving back to our communities as Michigan is not only where we do business, it is our home. For the fourth year in a row, we proudly stand with the Griffins to help impact a local school. We are committed to providing this year’s winner with a little help, inspiration, and love—it is our wish that with our time and resources we can make a positive impact and bring hope to students, staff and parents.”

Led by project contractor Mike Case of Case Construction, several partners have signed on to provide assistance with the makeover as needed, including electrical by CS Erickson, headed by Leland Winter. In addition, Kent ISD, Ottawa Area ISD, Grand Rapids Public Schools, 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, Ottawa and Allegan Counties, as well as the Thornapple-Kellogg district in Barry County (which is served by Kent ISD). All eligible schools with a need are encouraged to apply.

Official rules and regulations of the contest are available here.

Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, in its fourth 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 more than 500,000 Michigan policyholders.