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

The second annual Media Room Makeover contest offers eligible schools the opportunity to submit their applications online between now and April 1, 2016 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 ranging from $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. The two runner-up schools will each receive $500 toward upgrading the amenities of their current media rooms.

Through the inaugural contest in 2015, the Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center was chosen to receive a new media room that its 260 students have been enjoying throughout this school year. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belmont and the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center in Wyoming finished as runners-up last year.

“Farm Bureau Insurance is committed to enriching children and communities right here in Michigan,” said Vic Verchereau, vice president of marketing for Farm Bureau Insurance. “When we align with other Michigan partners who share in that passion, we find that it is the perfect opportunity to take action. The media room makeover project we put together with our friends at the Griffins was a great success in 2015, and we can’t wait to help another deserving school again this year. It is our hope that our efforts will provide a little hope and rejuvenation while making a big impact on the future of these bright students.”

Several partners have signed on to provide assistance with the makeover as needed, including Mike Case of Case Construction, Custer Office Furniture and the Griffins Youth Foundation. 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.

Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, in its second 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 nearly 500,000 Michigan policyholders.