There is an exciting contest going on over the next few months where “Pepsi is giving away millions to fund great ideas”. (wording straight from the Pepsi Refresh Project website)

What’s even more exciting is that Richmond’s own landmark movie palace, the Byrd Theatre, is throwing their hat in the ring for one of the top prizes for $250,000 to put towards renovations throughout the building — new seats, improved bathrooms, and increased accessibility.

To kick off the project, the folks at the Byrd Theatre Foundation are reaching out to the community, asking anyone that has ever enjoyed their time at the Byrd to share their fondest memories:

The Foundation will be hosting its own competition seeking two stories to include in the Pepsi video submission. Other notable submissions will be released via YouTube throughout the month of July to encourage voting and participation. A Flickr stream will be created to allow for public participation and documentation of memories and events.

Contest submissions are due May 26th, 2010 and winners will be announced May 28, 2010. The winners will be contacted via email and filmed shortly after so the video can be ready by the submission deadline. Submissions should be sent to stories@thebtf.org. Those that wish to submit a story via YouTube should send an email that includes contact information and the YouTube URL.

[from a press release sent out yesterday morning, which can be found here]

So email your memories/story ideas to Brandon Laroussini at brandonl@thebtf.org [edit: updated email address, send to: stories@thebtf.org] and relive those memories — and at the same time, help secure the future of the Byrd Theatre!