Contest ExtendedConcern over the COVID-19 illness has us all practicing social distancing. The venue for our celebration is likely to be closed until late June. Therefore we are extending the contest closing date to May 31 2020. The need to reduce infant mortality is still here. So while you are all home, log in to the 2020 Coolest Pet website and see how many new pets have been added. Admire them all and VOTE for your favorites. We really need your help! We will name some winners the week of June 1. Our celebration is tentatively set for June 30 to comply with health restrictions. The Coolest Pets in Columbus Contest is open to anyone in the known universe 21-years-old or older who would like to enter their pet to compete for the coveted title of "The Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020. For purpose of this contest "Pet" shall be include "Dog" or "Cat" or "Unique Pet". "Unique Pet" is an open category that can include any pet you can photograph from last year's popular "Earl the Squirrel" to your gecko to your horse to your goldfish. You can be creative! Our focus is Columbus IN, but pets from anywhere can enter.
Submit a photo of your pet. Provide a few short sentences why your pet is the coolest of the cool. Photos should be digital and sharp enough to look good on the internet. No photos of people, just your pet. Photos should be in focus to show off your amazing pet.
There is a $10 fee to post your pet, but you automatically receive 10 votes when you enter your pet! If you have multiple pets, you will need to take separate photos of each and post them separately. One pet to an entry. The $10 posting fee applies to each pet you enter.
Pet owners are encouraged to have their friends, relatives, and co-workers go to the contest website and vote for their pet.
Votes cost $1.00 per vote with no maximum on how many votes a person can buy. For example, you can give 100 votes to your favorite pet by donating $100 in a single transaction via the website and come back to the site as many times as you want and donate votes as often as you'd like.
Why are we doing this?
Ok, folks, here's the bigger reason for running a Coolest Pet in Columbus Contest. With our basic focus on children, we're raising money
to help reduce infant mortality in Indiana. It's a huge problem—much bigger than you would ever imagine. Far too many babies die before their first birthday. So the Columbus Meridian Kiwanis Club, and its partners Upland Brewing, White River Broadcasting, and The Republic, are working together to bring awareness to the issue. Dollars raised through this campaign will be donated to the Columbus Meridian Kiwanis Club, which will distribute funds to the
March of Dimes;
Riley Children's Foundation Be the Hope Now campaign; and the
Healthy Communities Infant Mortality Prevention Team of Columbus Regional Hospital. These are three non-profit organizations, whose mission is to help reduce infant mortality and provide health & human services and educational opportunities to disadvantaged children in Indiana.
Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to the
Top 3 Dogs; the
Top 3 Cats; and the
Top 3 Unique Pets that receive the most votes. There will be a total of 9 prizes. There will also be an overall competition between Dog Lovers, Cat Lovers and Unique Pet Lovers to see who can raise the most money (votes) to support Newborn and Infant Health through the
March of Dimes,
Riley Children's Foundation and the
Healthy Communities Infant Mortality Prevention Team. All of the winning pets as well as all entries and their vote totals will be shown on the Kiwanis Coolest Pet website. Following the final tally of votes at the end of the contest, there will be a downloadable "
Bragging Rights Certificate" recognizing vote getting (fund raising) ability of Dog Lovers or Cat Lovers or Unique Pet Lovers.
Top Pet -- First Place:
The pet with the most votes will be crowned the "Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020.
The winning pet will be prominently featured on the front label of a special beer glass provided by Upland Brewing (How cool is that?!) The winning pets in each category will be professionally sketched in a line drawing for the glass art. The entry photo and the sketch will be featured on Kiwanis, Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; and other partner websites.
The top pet winners will be given signed original sketches and honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on June 30, 2020.
The top pet winners may be asked to attend promotional events and be available for interviews by the news media.
Second Place:
The pet with the second highest number of votes will be deemed the "Second Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020.
The second place pet in each category will be professionally sketched in a line drawing for the glass art. The entry photo and the sketch will be featured on Kiwanis, Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; and other partner websites.
All pet winners will be given signed original sketches and honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on June 30, 2020.
Third Place
The pet with the third highest number of votes will be deemed the "Third Coolest Pet in Columbus" for 2020
The third place pet in each category will be professionally sketched in a line drawing for the glass art. The entry photo and the sketch will be featured on Kiwanis, Upland Brewing Co; White River Broadcasting Company, WCSI - WKKG - WIN 104.9 - 106.1 The River; and other partner websites.
All pet winners will be given signed original sketches and honored at a celebration reception at the Pump House Restaurant in Columbus, IN on June 30, 2020
In the event that the first place pet is unable or unwilling to fulfill all of the roles and responsibilities of being the Coolest Pet in Columbus, the second place pet will assume that title and receive all of the benefits described above.