Pepsi on Verge of Giving $250K to HSUS?

Sportsmen- Tell Pepsi the Truth about HSUS

The country's largest anti-hunting group, the Humane Society of the United States, appears to be on the verge of getting a $250,000 grant from Pepsi Cola. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) and others are working to inform Pepsi about HSUS' true, animal rights agenda.

Pepsi will award $250,000 to the top two vote getters in an online grant program it developed to provide funding to a variety of projects. Currently, HSUS is leading.

The program, called the Pepsi Refresh Program, was started in January of 2010. According the rules, it is: "an online grant program which makes available millions of dollars to be granted to projects which are intended to improve communities through an online, democratic voting process..."

Up to 1,000 ideas can be submitted each month by individuals, companies and non-profit organizations. Thirty two of those ideas will be approved for funding based upon the number of votes received from registered online users. Of those thirty two; two will receive $250,000 and ten each will receive grants of $5 thousand, $25 thousand, or $50 thousand.

The Pepsi Refresh Program rules indicate that no proposal seeking funding can involve lobbying for the changing of laws. Consequently, the HSUS proposal that leads in the current round of voting claims its goal is to "rescue animals who are suffering from extreme neglect."

However, as the USSA has argued many times, this simply frees up existing resources for HSUS to continue engaging in public policy battles. That means battles against sportsmen.

The USSA has drafted a letter to Pepsi describing HSUS' history of standing against outdoor traditions and conservation funding. Another group, the Animal Agriculture Alliance, which represents many farmers, has also sent a letter to Pepsi. Their letter describes the attacks HSUS has leveled against them.

"We are very concerned that Pepsi, like many other companies, has been misled about the real mission of HSUS," said Doug Jeanneret, USSA vice president of marketing. "They believe the money will be to help animals when, in reality, the grant will merely free up HSUS to deploy their already vast resources to attack hunting, farming and most animal use. It is important that Pepsi hears from sportsmen and other responsible citizens about this group"

Take Action! - Sportsmen nationwide should do two things in response to this situation:

• Register at the Pepsi Refresh Program website, www.refresheverything.com and vote for a more worthy proposal.
• Contact Pepsi through their consumer phone number, 1-800-433-2652 or Click here to send an e-mail by picking "Question or comment about the Pepsi Refresh Project" from the drop down menu. Please ask Pepsi Co. not to support the HSUS. Explain that HSUS is the number one anti-hunting organization in the United States and has opposed sportsmen on many issues for years.

Tell them that if HSUS is successful with its agenda, hunting would be a thing of the past. Additionally, billions of dollars in wildlife conservation would be placed at risk due to the loss of the funding provided through the taxes paid by sportsmen on their gear.

Pass this message along to a friend and make sure they take action. Also, ask any friends to join the battle today by signing up for the USSA's NO COST Sentry Program! Just visit www.ussportsmen.org/beasentry, register and they will begin receiving alerts just like this one.