Miramonte Elementary takes second in Big Lots video contest

Thousands and hundreds of thousands of votes were cast in one month’s time early this summer in Big Lots Lots2Give video contest.

And though Miramonte Elementary School in South El Monte didn’t get the top prize, they still won big with a $2,500 cash prize for second place. Miramonte’s video, created and starring seven sixth-graders, showed viewers the school’s trouble with their sound system. Read the story here.

Hopefully when students return in the fall, they will be able to update their old sound system that made it difficult to hear anyone at assemblies or school productions. Miramonte is part of the Mountain View School District.

Along with Miramonte, twenty-five other schools across the United States will have some extra cash for class this year as part of the Lots2Give contest and winners of the 2009 Lots2Give video contest. Out of 46 schools that took part in the contest, only 26 schools were chosen by online viewers to share $80,000 in cash prizes.

Big Lots asked participating schools to submit a short video and brief essay explaining why their school is in need of financial support. From mid-June to mid-July, the public voted for their favorite video at www.lots2give.com. More than 300,000 votes were cast.

In addition to the video contest, Big Lots established an in-store donation program to help the 103 schools participating in the Lots2Give program. From May 2 through July 12, Big Lots customers were invited to make $1 or $5 donations at participating Big Lots stores, with 100 percent of donations going directly to participating schools. This initiative raised more than $74,000 to help participating schools.

Miramonte Elementary School will also receive $1,590.83 from their share of the donations collected in-store throughout the Los Angeles market. Other local schools also participated in the Lots2Give program and will be receiving $1,590.83 for each of their schools:
– Baker Elementary School in El Monte
– La Primaria Elementary School in El Monte
– Maxson Elementary School in El Monte

To continue to give back, Big Lots stores across the country will host an in-store Teacher Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 1. ll educators with a valid school identification card will receive 10 percent off their total purchase.

Miramonte Elementary school will be presented with a check for their second place prize on Monday, Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Big Lots store at 11130 Washington Blvd. in Whittier.

For more information and a complete list of winners, visit www.lots2give.com for a complete list of winners.