GREENE – Those spearheading the effort to build a memorial in honor of the 13 killed in the tragic shooting at the American Civic Association in April 2009 have raised over $125,000 for their cause since January. They are hoping to add another $50,000 to their coffers by lobbying, not for donations, but for votes as they vie for funding through the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Each month, the multinational corporation best known for its signature soft-drink distributes upwards of $1.3 million through the philanthropic project. According to the Pepsi Refresh website, 1,096 ideas have been submitted for the current round of funding, for which voting began on Dec. 1.

As of this morning, the group’s “idea” ranked 15 among those competing in the $50,000 category.

“We need to be in the Top Ten by midnight, December 31 in order to win,” explained David Marsland of Greene, who serves as the project coordinator for the ACA Memorial Park Committee.

Marsland’s wife, Hong Xiu Mao, was one of the 13 killed at the center where she had been taking English classes and working toward her citizenship. In the wake of the event, he and others who lost loved ones on that day have joined forces to see the memorial project through. According to the group’s website, www.acamemorial.com, the intention is “to build a greenspace with a central monument to honor the people who lost their lives in the April tragedy, as well as those who survived, and the community that responded.”