College Pride Photo Contest Attracts Buddhas & Invisible Meteorologists?

Photo Contest Ideas, Photo Contest Tools, Photo Marketing Widgets, Pongr Contests | by

    Peaceful State of Mind — Yuko N., of Kamakura, Japan, shares some Lyndon State College pride from her recent travels.

    Today is National Green and Gold Day, a celebration of alumni pride at Vermont’s Lyndon State College coinciding with the inauguration of their new president. The LSC Alumni Relations office launched a Green and Gold Photo Contest today to demonstrate the school’s global reach — and the pictures streaming in so far are an amazing testimony.

    Alumni, students and faculty are sharing photos of themselves on vacation, doing social service projects, goofing around with the Hornet mascot and just hanging out on campus (We’re talking about you, 4th Floor Vail).

    And then of course, there’s the celebration of future LSC students:

    When I Grow Up, I Want to Go to Lyndon State College!

    For National Green and Gold Day, Lyndon State College is using Pongr’s free Photo Contest management tools, which automatically feed submissions into a streaming gallery where alumni can comment and vote on their favorite pics.

    The Hornets have a strong reputation of churning out top meteorologists, and tonight one of them — Reno News-4′s Brandon Wholey (Class of 2008) — will be wearing a green and gold necktie on the air to celebrate his ties to the school.

    KRNV-4′s chief meteorologist, Brandon Whoiey, plans to show his Green and Gold pride on the air during a Nevada weathercast.

    You can get a sneak preview of his Giorgio Armani tie right now.  The lighter colors are a bit more subdued than official Lyndon Green and Gold because Wholey understandably wants to avoid interfering with the green-sensitive chroma key. Too much green clothing and he would become invisible to viewers!

    No matter which colors you’re wearing, Pongr’s free Photo Contest tools are perfect for schools, colleges and universities to generate student, parent and alumni pride.  (For more information on how LSC launched their contest, click here.)

     

    Talking Candy: Still Time to Snap Away in Pongr’s Valentine’s Day Photo Contest!

    Mobile Marketing, Photo Sharing, Pongr Contests | by

      Coming Soon: Pongr Conversation Hearts? (Click here to make your own customized messages).

      WHO DO U LUV?

      Historians will debate this for ages, but a strong argument can be made that Conversation Hearts, pioneered by NECCO, is the original inspiration for texting — and maybe even Twitter?

      For men and women who have difficulty expressing their true emotions, these candies are a godsend on Valentine’s Day or for school dances, wedding proposals, anniversaries, etc.

      SweeTarts, under its Willy Wonka sister (brother?) brand, makes message Hearts, too. But the entire Valentine’s “conversation” candy genre has just exploded. For all you bashful types, there are now:

      Papa Gino’s restaurants just jumped into the Valentine’s arena with their clever Conversation Pizzas!

      We love the creativity of Papa Gino’s restaurants, which have taken pizza to a whole new level. Click to see their full gallery of Conversation Pizzas!

      Lastly, there’s the message candy for the outsiders — those who despise the very idea of Valentine’s Day still have wallets. BitterSweets candy, created to share disappointment and rejection, is from the same folks behind Despair business humor products.

      Valentine’s Candy for Bitter People — The candy itself isn’t bitter, but Despair.com is marketing its sugary tins to those of us who have experienced one too many heartbreaks. (Click to learn more).

      Did we miss any foods that talk back?  What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day candy?

      Pongr’s mobile photo contest software is usually used behind the scenes by brands to engage with fans at supermarkets, convenience stores, retailers and Quick Service Restaurants. But in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’d love to hear from you directly!

      Snap a pic of your favorite Valentine-themed item and send it to us (insert-brand-name@pongr.com) for a chance to win gift cards to H & M, Old Navy, Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

      Love, Pongr

      (You have until Feb. 17 to play. Click here for contest details.)

      Craving Pink Food? Share Photos of Your Favorite Valentine Brands

      Advertising, Pongr Contests | by

        Lucky Guy — Pillsbury’s lovable Doughboy mascot gets smooched on special edition packaging. We never noticed this until now, but D-Boy has really cute baby blues!

        You know how bakeries and breweries churn out “special edition” St. Patrick’s Day bagels and beer just by drowning everything in green food coloring?  Well, despite being awash in a sea of pinks and reds, Valentine’s Day is not like that.

        I’m continually amazed by the packaging creativity of brands having a little fun with Valentine’s Day, which as we recently mentioned, has become a nearly $3 billion industry for candy alone.

        So, it’s always a pleasant surprise to see non-candy food items in the supermarket aisle change over their shapes, styles and packaging in the name of love. In the cereal universe, both General Mills (Cocoa Puffs) and Kellogg’s (Rice Krispies) are fighting for kids to push the chocolates aside — even if only for a moment.

        And as evidenced by the glass slipper theme below, cookie technology continues to surpass our humble snacking expectations. If you’re looking for a salty tiara to go with those sugary shoes, Utz Pretzels won’t disappoint.

        If the slipper fits…. Eat it! Pillsbury has some Valentine Fun with princess footwear fashions.

        Finding symbols of love also extends to brands we normally don’t associate with February 14th. Check out these limited edition Diet Pepsi cans encouraging fans to “Love Every Sip” like “Modern Family” actress Sofia Vergara.

        For the Love of Cola — Has anyone noticed the heart-shaped logo on 12-pack packages of Diet Pepsi?

        It just donned on me that you may also want to look at Sofia:

        Double click to learn more about Pepsi’s “Love Every Sip” campaign.

        So what’s your favorite special Valentine’s Day brand?  Where’s your favorite place to buy groceries? While you’re in the supermarket or department store aisle this week, snap a pic of any Valentine’s Day-themed item and send it to us (insert-brand-name@pongr.com) for a chance to win gift cards to H & M, Old Navy, Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

        Pictures of you hamming it up — Valentine’s ham anyone? — are even better.

        Pongr’s Valentine’s Day Photo Contest runs from Feb. 4-17. To get started, click here for contest details.

         

        Explore Darth Vader’s Adorable Side — Share Your Favorite Candy in our Valentine’s Day Photo Contest!

        Photo Sharing, Pongr Contests | by

          The Evil Empire Has Just Gotten Sweeter. These Darth Vader candy mugs grimace at Target shoppers.

          You know that scene in the original Star Wars (or “A New Hope” to you kiddies) when Darth Vader is sitting around a conference room table and some underling says the wrong thing and then gets suffocated by the mere pointing of Lord Vader’s finger?

          You don’t get more badass than that. But seeing Darth Vader’s helmet serving as a candy dish filled with pink, yellow and lavender conversation hearts neutralizes that tough guy vibe for me. I now picture him shaving his legs and watching Downton Abbey.  Seeing Darth Vader in rhinestones on this box of Star Wars candy further cements the image.

          On the flip side, R2D2 is supposed to be cute — and he looks even cuter staring out a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

          Along with Halloween, Easter and Christmas, Valentines Day is one of the four Super Bowls of Candy Creativity.  V-Day candy alone is a $2.89 billion industry!

          Is it us, or is Ms. Brown M & M looking sexier and sexier?

          Now it’s confession time. Is it okay to find the girl M & Ms physically attractive?  Particularly the sultry and sophisticated Ms. Brown, played by former Miss America Vanessa Williams?  Here’s predicting that Ms. Brown/Ms. Williams sells a lot more candy this year.

          Target has turned its shopping aisles into a magical storybook land.

          One of my favorite places to hunt for Valentine’s Day candy is Target, which as usual has taken holidays and special occasions to the next level with fun graphics and plays on words.  Welcome to the world of VALENTOPIA!

          On my most recent Target scavenger hunt, I stumbled across some exclusive Disney candy, Russell Stover Billion Dollar Bills, and SpongeBob hamburger-like Gummy Krabby Patties. The weirder the name, the more likely kids want to gobble them up.

          I have no idea what a “Midgee” is, but I love Tootsie Rolls and how they have adapted their packaging to serve as a fortune cookie — and a much chewier and long-lasting one at that.

          Tootsie Rolls That Talk Back — Special edition Valentine’s Day wrappers have special romantic messaging.

          So what’s your favorite Valentine’s Day candy?  Where’s your favorite place to shop? While you’re in the supermarket or department store aisle this week, snap a pic of any Valentine’s Day-themed item and send it to us (insert-brand-name@pongr.com) for a chance to win gift cards to H & M, Old Navy, Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

          Pongr’s Valentine’s Day Photo Contest runs from Feb. 4-17. To get started, click here for contest details.

          Valentine’s Photo Sharing: What kind of cards did you give out in elementary school?

          Photo Sharing, Pongr Contests | by

            “Be My Valentine Or I’ll Beat You to a Pulp!” The stars of World Wrestling Entertainment get into the ring of elementary school Valentine’s Day cards.

            Despite stories like Charlie Brown waiting by his mailbox for Valentines that never come (see “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown“), most elementary school kids experience a utopian flood of “likes” and love that will unlikely ever happen again in life.

            In grade school, giving your classmates positive affirmation in the form of a store bought Valentine (sorry, but the kids who give out handmade construction paper ones get made fun of) is mandatory.  Even if you got in a fistfight with the class bully on Feb. 13, the next day is all lovey dovey — delivered through the mouths of SpongeBob, Batman, Spider-Man, Justin Bieber and Barbie.

            Particularly amusing is the effort to make Valentine’s Day appealing to boys, stripping the holiday of its pinks and reds and sending in an emergency crew of pumped-up World Wrestling Entertainment stars, Angry Birds and the Star Wars gang.  What? You didn’t know that a light saber these days is far more romantic than a dozen roses?

            Also surprising is the Goth-like turn some of the girls’ cards are taking. It’s tempting to think that the Monster High teen vampires might be after Barbie’s throat, but both doll brands are owned by Mattel.

            Not all little girls are into cutesy characters like Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony. The Monster High zombie girls, a fashion doll line by Mattel, lets kids explore their inner Goth.

            Just as kitschy are the choices in the grown-up greeting card aisle.

            Nothing is more romantic than plumber’s butt jokes, right?

            Not So Classy — Would you be smitten by a matchmaker in these shorts? Recycled Paper Greetings wants you to reconsider.

            Based on first impressions, which inscription below do you think goes inside the plumber card?  The scary one, right?

            Now You Get to Play Greeting Card Editor: Which Valentine’s Day Message Belongs with the Tacky Cupid?

            Wrong. The scarier reference goes inside another Recycled Paper Greetings card with a Valentines-decorated White House. If you’re a Washington lobbyist or just want to be a political namedropper, you can also send the card below to yourself.

            Cupid-in-Chief — President Barack Obama takes a few moments away from leading the Free World to wish you a Happy V Day. Inscription inside: “Thought you’d like to put this up where everyone could see it.” (via Recycled Paper Greetings).

            So what’s your favorite Valentine’s card memory?  While you’re in the supermarket or department store aisle this week, snap a pic of any Valentine’s Day-themed item and send it to us for a chance to win gift cards to H & M, Old Navy, Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

            Pongr’s Valentine’s Day Photo Contest runs from Feb. 4-17. To get started, click here for contest details!

            Don’t Just Spread The Love, Pongr It!

            Brand Ambassadors, Brand Loyalty, Pongr Contests, Shopper Marketing, Uncategorized | by

              We’re well on our way into winter, and love is in the air. Flowers, gifts, and candy are being purchased. Pink, red, and white decorations are hanging, and this can only mean one thing: Valentine’s Day is approaching.

              Now, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be dedicated exclusively to those in romantic relationships. Valentine’s Day is a time when you can express your love to anyone, such as a family member or close friend… and the only thing that is just as important as spreading the love, is capturing it.

              With that being said, it’s time for the Valentine’s Day photo contest!

               Here’s how it works:

              1)   Take Valentine’s Day inspired photos.

              2)   Send them in, either by MMS or email, to “brandnamehere”@pongr.com!  Make sure to put #VDay in the subject line to be entered in the contest.

              3)   Share, share, share! Share your pics with family and friends. Share them on Facebook or Twitter. Sharing is caring, and you’ll only be gaining more Pongr points, Facebook likes, and Twitter favorites!

              The contest starts on Monday, February 4 and ends on Sunday, February 17. We’re giving you some extra time after Valentine’s Day in case you’re celebrating with your loved ones over the weekend! Three very lucky winners chosen at random will be revealed on Monday, February 18th and will receive gift cards to their choice of H&M, Old Navy, Starbucks, or Dunkin Donuts.

              So whether you’re spending your Valentine’s Day with your spouse, friends, family, or a bottle of merlot, don’t forget to take some pictures and send them our way!

              Shopper Marketing: UNREAL Candy Celebrates Target Partnership With $10K Sweepstakes

              Brand Photo-Sharing Games, Featured Posts, Pongr Contests, Shopper Marketing | by

                PLAY FOOD — It’s amazing how long a few UNREAL candies can keep a baby amused. Photo credit: Douglas L. (Double click for more candid UNREAL baby pics)

                Happiness is… eating candy with your feet?

                For this youngster, it’s just as enjoyable to play with UNREAL Candy as it is to eat it. UNREAL began as a family project — a 13-year-old boy asking his dad, “Why does the junk food we love have to be so bad for us?” — so it’s only fitting that the start-up brand’s first photo contest would generate tons of fun family moments.

                To celebrate its nationwide distribution in Target Stores, UNREAL is giving away a $10,000 Target shopping spree as the grand prize in its “Unjunk Your 2013 Sweepstakes.” Ten additional winners will receive a year’s worth of UNREAL Candy.

                To enter, UNREAL fans need to snap a pic of the candy — or preferably of themselves, family or friends enjoying the candy — and email it or picture-text it to unreal@pongr.com. Aside from the customary kids with chocolately faces, shoppers have been getting extremely creative with their contest entries. Here are a few unexpected gems:

                1. An UNREAL parakeet.
                2. Cute dolls with a preference for candy made without artificial ingredients or preservatives.
                3. A unicorn who loves candy that has a low glycemic index.*
                4. Spelling the futuristic UNREAL logo with candy-coated chocolates.
                5. Balancing UNREAL on a pregnant tummy!
                6. UNREAL school teachers.

                The asterisked unicorn entry was done by a fan with a chroma key and green screen, an additional effort that’s appreciated but not necessary to enter the contest. The beauty of all Pongr-powered photo contests is that there is a very low “Snap and Send” barrier for participation. No apps to download. No codes to scan.

                “Our big challenge is how do you capture taste in a photo?” asks Alan Ringvald, UNREAL Candy’s head of digital and social media. “We’re trying to prove our unjunked candy tastes just as good without any of the bad stuff in it.”

                UNREAL has been giving away tons of free candy samples each month, sharing the sweetness at art festivals, street fairs, concerts, sporting events, college campus and 5K races. New York’s recent Jingle Ball concert with Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber was also joined by four UNREAL “Morph Men,” silent Blue Man Group-like creatures who surprised fans with UNREAL treats.

                But the next best thing to actually eating candy is showing the world how much fun candy can be — and that’s where the photo contest comes into play.

                “Picture sharing is booming,” Ringvald says. “Photos are all about instant gratification, and we’re hoping people will want to share some of their most enjoyable UNREAL moments.”

                “The Pongr system is just so easy for our customers to use,” he adds. “It’s streamlined for sharing on Facebook and Twitter and it’s a great way for people to interact up close with the product.”

                HERE I AM!  To kick off its distribution of UNREAL, Target has been showcasing the product on end cap displays in all of its U.S. stores. Photo credit: Arnold F. (Double click to see other Target shoppers discovering their favorite candy).

                Amidst the piles of smiles being collected in the photo contest, UNREAL is making an astonishing pitch for a consumer brand. The company wants you to enjoy their candy, but not too much of it.

                The year’s supply of candy is worth $500, roughly enough for a few bags each week.

                “We don’t want people to gorge on candy — any candy, even ours,” says Ringvald. “We want you to unjunk with a reasonable amount.”

                That message coincides with the company’s insistence that its customers eat more of nature’s candy, i.e., fruit, on all of its nutritional comparison charts on the Web.

                FASHIONABLE CANDY — Fruitella 14′s funky fingernail polish complements UNREAL’s colorful packaging! (Double click for the full Pongr UNREAL Photo Gallery)

                UNREAL’s commitment to providing a better candy option makes it a natural pitch to mom bloggers, who are a big part of the company’s promotion effort. Bloggers who are sharing the 2013 Sweepstakes have asked their readers to hashtag their blog name in the Pongr photo gallery.

                “We’re a small part of a much bigger movement,” says Ringvald. “We believe in sourcing ingredients responsibly and improving nutrition rather than to sacrifice quality for cost.”

                UNREAL has been promoting its Pongr-powered photo contest on its Facebook page and through outreach to mom blogger networks. (Double click for your chance to win before January 20.)

                You can find UNREAL Candy at Target, Staples, CVS, Michaels, Market Basket, BJs, Tedeschi Food Shops and other fine stores.

                (Hungry? To find the nearest UNREAL Candy retail location, click here.)

                Photo Philanthropy: CenturyLink’s Top Fans Compete for Community Food Banks

                Brand Photo-Sharing Games, Pongr Contests | by

                  THUMBS UP: A CenturyLink customer gets into the spirit of the #1 Fan Contest to raise money for hunger relief.

                  CenturyLink, the third largest telecommunications company in the United States, is trying a bold social experiment with its Internet, mobile and satellite TV customers. In the spirit of the holidays, CenturyLink has been inviting its most devoted fans to compete for the honor of helping others.

                  From Thanksgiving to the final ticking moments of New Year’s Eve, the Fortune 200 company has been issuing weekly photo-sharing challenges to benefit national and local charities that fight hunger. The holiday mobile game will determine who is CenturyLink’s #1 Fan.  Players get points for submitting pics to the CenturyLink Gallery and earn additional points for sharing pictures on Facebook and Twitter.

                  The first weekly challenge was to snap a photo of your hand giving the “thumbs up” sign in front of the CenturyLink logo, whether it is on your computer, television, or advertising materials. For every picture submitted, $1 is donated to Feeding America, a national network of food banks and volunteer programs. In addition, $1,000 is donated each week to a community food bank chosen by the currently ranked #1 Fan.

                  Holiday Spirit — Players can find the CenturyLink logo on their TV, computer screen or out in the community.

                  “We’re excited to see where this goes,” says Joshua Sippola, CenturyLink’s Social Media Strategy Manager. “This campaign gives us an opportunity to connect with our customers in a fun and engaging way — and for a good cause.”

                  “I’ve volunteered at my local food bank packing lunches and it’s a very humbling experience,” he adds. “Everyone’s so focused on holiday shopping right now and who can get the best deal. But when you’re making sandwiches, you realize that this might be the only time someone gets to eat all day. It really puts things into perspective.”

                  The #1 Fan Contest is being powered by Pongr, a mobile photo marketing and image recognition technology company that specializes in helping global brands connect with new audiences.

                  Customers email or picture-text their photos to CenturyLink@pongr.com and instantly receive this return message:

                  “Awesome pic! You hear that? That’s the sound of another $1 going toward Feeding America and you moving toward that #1 fan spot!”

                  Clicking on an attached link encourages players to share the photos on social media for more points and to continue to compete for charity.

                  CenturyLink is partnered with Feeding America, which earned the highest Four Star Charity ranking by Charity Navigator, an independent auditor measuring fiscal responsibility and accountability. (Double click for more information on fighting hunger).

                  CenturyLink’s marketing managers say they appreciate how the Pongr platform implements the photo contest without requiring fans to officially register or take any additional steps. Particularly appealing, they say, is the fact that you don’t have to open a separate Pongr account like a lot of social media sites require to participate in their promotions.

                  Pongr-powered campaigns are simple. Fans take pics and email them for instant engagement. And photo sharing is an activity most people are naturally doing already.

                  I BRAKE FOR FUN — Future Weekly Challenges may include the creative use of CenturyLink promotional items. You just never know where the CenturyLink logo might pop up next!

                  Other weekly challenges so far have included:

                  • Favorite Product — Visit CenturyLink.com and photograph your favorite CenturyLink service, whether it be Home Phone, Internet, DiRECTV or Wireless.
                  • Out of Home Advertising — Snap a photo of CenturyLink branding on a billboard, cable truck or other media space outdoors.
                  • Retail Stores — Take a pic at a CenturyLink store, where representatives can review the best service plans and equipment to meet your needs — whether it be for High-Speed Internet, DIRECTV, Home Phone Service, Verizon Wireless or Small Business Solutions.

                  CenturyLink promotes their #1 Fan contest on their Facebook page and Twitter feed and there are plans to further involve their local retail stores as well. The company has a year-round relationship with Feeding America, holding annual food drives and employee volunteer days at local agencies.

                  The season-long winner of the contest will also receive a free iPad Mini.

                  “The timing is great,” Sippola says. “People are always in the giving spirit this time of year, but I think it is especially true right now because of what just happened with Hurricane Sandy. Hopefully, helping others will stay on top of people’s minds.”

                  Restaurant Surprise: Christmas Comes Early for Panthers Fans

                  Brand Ambassadors, Brand Loyalty, Brand Photo-Sharing Games, Pongr Contests | by

                    Betricia McNeill, of Greensboro, North Carolina, will be taking her husband to his first Carolina Panthers game, as the winner of Pepsi’s Snap It/Send It Sweepstakes!

                    As a supervisor at Fox Pizza & Subs in Greensboro, N.C., Betricia McNeill stares at 24-packs of Pepsi all day long. One recent afternoon, she was loading Pepsi cans in the backroom cooler when the roaring Carolina Panthers logo caught her eye.

                    Betricia snapped a pic of the beast with her camera phone and emailed it to Panthers@Pongr.com. In a few seconds, she was entered in the Carolina Panthers Snap It/Send It Sweepstakes.

                    “I didn’t even tell my husband Steven about it because I didn’t want to disappoint him,” she recalls. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high because I’ve never really won anything before.”

                    By now, you may have guessed that Betricia won that Sweepstakes (we don’t have the resources to profile everyone who doesn’t win). And she’ll be taking Steven and two yet-to-be-named friends to Bank of America Stadium this Sunday to watch the Panthers take on the Oakland Raiders.

                    Betricia is originally from Jamaica, where NFL fever takes a backseat to soccer, but since meeting Steven she’s pretended to love football.  Isn’t that what marriage is all about?

                    “To be honest, I sometimes watch the Panthers just to be with him. He tries to explain what’s going on, but it’s not really part of my culture,” she says. “But I’m catching up.”

                    Betricia McNeill surprised her husband Steven with the best Christmas present ever — premium seats to watch his beloved Carolina Panthers.

                    Steven, meanwhile, is a Panthers fanatic who frequently lives out his football fantasies through the Madden NFL game on Playstation 2.

                    “He and his friends are always talking about their plays on PS2 but Steven has never been to a game live,” Betricia says. “He was so excited. Of course, we have many more people who want to go with us than we have tickets. We have to make some big decisions.”

                    Pepsi’s Carolina Panthers Snap It/Send It Sweepstakes is being powered by Pongr, a mobile photo marketing company that turns consumer packaging and in-store displays into immediate direct-response opportunities for shoppers.

                    Betricia says she is a lifelong Pepsi fan who prefers drinking her soda half-frozen, a delicate operation for anyone who’s ever left a can in the freezer too long. She adds that she misses the glass Pepsi bottles common in her native Jamaica.

                    Pongr CEO Jamie Thompson, who’s not eligible to win any Pongr-powered promotions, loves to help brands engage with their most loyal fans.

                    Although Steven is reportedly a die-hard fan win-or-lose, Betricia is naturally hoping for a win this weekend for the hard-luck 5-9 Panthers.

                    “That would make him so happy!” she says.

                    Ditto for the other 73,774 fans at Bank of America Stadium.

                    (Check out our other profiles of previous Pepsi/Panthers contest winners Tony Carter, a U.S. Army veteran who just attended his first NFL game ever; and Brandy McDaniel, a social services counselor who almost threw her winning carton of Pepsi in the trash before Pongr’ing it!)

                    Trash to Treasure: Carolina Panthers Fan Almost Throws Her Game Day Away

                    Brand Photo-Sharing Games, Gamification, Pongr Contests | by

                      Brandy McDaniel and boyfriend Chris, who frequently bond over Panthers football, will be headed to Bank of America Stadium this weekend courtesy of the Pepsi Snap It/Send It Sweepstakes.

                      Brandy McDaniel has a standing Sunday message for her mother and other non-football fans:  “Don’t bother me. Don’t mess with my TV. The Panthers are on!”

                      “My mom keeps asking me, ‘Why waste your time watching them when they’re just gonna give you another ‘L’?  But I have to support my team no matter what,” says the 29-year-old disabilities counselor from Chester, S.C. “I still might shake my head at them, but they are still my team.”

                      Thanks to Brandy’s football-agnostic mother, she, her boyfriend Chris and two yet-to-be-named friends will be at Bank of America Stadium this Sunday to watch the Panthers take on the Atlanta Falcons — in premium end zone seats close enough to see the players sweat. It’s because of her three-Pepsi’s-a-day mom that she even noticed the Carolina Panthers Snap It/Send It Sweepstakes on an empty 18-pack carton as she was emptying her trash.

                      Using her mobile phone, Brandy photographed the Pepsi and Panthers logos together and emailed the pic to Panthers@Pongr.com. She was automatically entered into a weekly drawing for premium tickets.

                      Brandy’s two-year-old son Daniel yells “Football! Football!” whenever he sees the NFL or Panthers logos.

                      “My mom drinks Pepsi like crazy. I took the picture in my kitchen and didn’t think about it again until I got the phone call days later when I was at work.  I actually let the call go to voicemail because I didn’t recognize the area code. When I heard that I won, I couldn’t believe it. I’ve won things like free t-shirts before, but nothing like this magnitude.”

                      Pepsi’s Carolina Panthers Snap It/Send It Sweepstakes is being powered by Pongr, a mobile photo marketing company that turns consumer packaging and in-store displays into immediate direct-response opportunities for shoppers.

                      “The contest was really easy to enter,” says Brandy. “It just took a few seconds. Now all I have to do is figure out who else I want to take to the game!”

                      These are tough times to be a Carolina Panthers fan as they currently sit at the bottom of the NFC South standings with a dismal 3-9 record. Of course, it wasn’t always this way. The Panthers played in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots in 2003 and were most recently in the playoffs in 2008.

                      Brandy’s 2-year-old son, Daniel — who will not be headed to Bank of America Stadium this weekend — has also caught Panthers fever. Perhaps it is by osmosis from his diaper bag:

                      The Panthers are Everywhere — Even When It’s Time to Go Potty.

                      “Daniel says ‘Football! Football!’ whenever he sees the Panthers logo. He also recognizes the NFL logo, too,” she adds. “He’s a true and true little boy.”

                      Every Sunday, Brandy wears her official Panthers jersey of wide receiver Steve Smith, whom she says “doesn’t have the big head that most pro athletes have.”

                      She tries to go to at least one game at Bank of America Stadium each season as a present to herself, shooting for the game closest to her October 27 birthday. This year, she couldn’t score tickets to her target game because the opposing Dallas Cowboys are too popular. She settled for going to a preseason game against the Dolphins instead.

                      “I’m thrilled to be going this Sunday,” she says. “I’m looking forward to enjoying some nachos, some beautiful weather and hopefully a victory. These seats will be the closet I’ve ever gotten to the field.”

                      Brandy’s fourth-row End Zone seats for Sunday’s Panthers game at Bank of America Stadium — courtesy of Pepsi, her mom’s favorite drink. (Double click to enlarge image).

                      (Are you a Carolina Panthers fan interested in a chance to win tickets to the December 23 game against the Oakland Raiders? Click here for more details) Also check out our profile of previous Pepsi/Panthers winner Tony Carter, a U.S. Army veteran who just attended his first NFL game ever).

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