Wawa,
PA – June 2025 / NewsmakerAlert: After
receiving more than 300 submissions, The
Wawa Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded to support Wawa’s
charitable giving and philanthropic activities, is thrilled to announce
the 2025 finalists for “The Wawa Foundation Hero Award.” The
Wawa Foundation Hero Award is an honor given to a non-profit organization
serving the greater Philadelphia area that assists others and builds stronger
communities through preserving our independence, protecting our safety,
and mentoring and inspiring our youth. The four finalists are:
Vote now through
June 27 to Help Choose a Winner
|
 The
winner will be chosen by public
vote on The Wawa Foundation’s website
from now through
to June 27. The organization receiving the most votes will be presented
to The Wawa Foundation Hero Award Panel for final approval.
The
Wawa Foundation Hero Award and Wawa Welcome America
Launched
during Philadelphia’s Wawa Welcome America festivities, The Wawa Foundation
Hero Award will be presented as part of the Independence Day morning ceremony
on July 4th in front of Independence Hall. The recipient of The Wawa Foundation
Hero Award will receive a $50,000 grant, and the three runners up will
each receive $10,000 grants.
“We
are thrilled with the four finalists for The Wawa Foundation Hero Award
and delighted to shine a light on the important work they’re doing in the
community,” said Liz
Simeone, President, The Wawa Foundation. “We look forward to celebrating
their stories during the 4th of July Celebration of Freedom ceremony when
we reveal the winner with a $50,000 grant to help these organizations continue
helping others in the community.”
About the Finalists
Heights
Philadelphia
Our
vision is to make Heights the place where young people find support to
reach their full potential. And it’s where we want to see the Philadelphia
of the future. Because when all students graduate high school and achieve
economic mobility, this community thrives.”
Veterans
Multi Service Center
Veterans
Multi-Service Center (VMC) exists solely to “serve those who served” this
great nation, our Veterans. Our mission is to provide services, programs,
opportunity and advancement to Veterans of the U.S. military and their
families.
Joyful
Readers
Joyful
Readers is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit whose mission is to ensure that
students across the city gain the reading skills they need to thrive. Joyful
Readers addresses this proficiency gap by placing full-time, trained tutors
directly into Philadelphia public schools to provide daily, intensive reading
tutoring to students in grades K-3.
Families
Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation
Families
Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation’s Police Youth Alliance (PYA) builds
trust-based relationships between police officers and students in underserved
communities across Philadelphia, surrounding suburbs, and counties through
New Jersey down to the shore. Through in-school and after-school programs,
PYA partners with schools, officers, and community groups to break down
barriers and foster mutual respect. Programs include STEM and reading enrichment,
recreational activities like chess and e-gaming, and community events such
as basketball clinics and clean-ups. All of these create shared experiences
that promote understanding, collaboration, and lasting connection with
the youth community and police officers.
About
The Wawa Foundation Hero Award Submission Process
Non-profit
organizations applied by submitting a video and/or a short story to The
Wawa Foundation website that provided background on their organization’s
work with, and impact on, the community. The Wawa Foundation Grant Committee
selected four compelling stories of organizations serving the Philadelphia
community with the best fit to the award focus area and criteria. The four
finalists will be put to a public vote, and the organization receiving
the most votes will be presented to The Wawa Foundation Hero Award Panel
for final approval and determination. The winning organization will receive
a $50,000 grant from The Wawa Foundation, and the three runners-up will
each receive $10,000 grants.
For
more information on The Wawa Foundation Hero Award and eligibility requirements,
terms and conditions, please visit www.TheWawaFoundation.org.
To be eligible to receive this award, non-profit organizations must meet
the grant selection criteria of The Wawa Foundation for support of organizations
providing assistance to causes representing everyday heroes.
About
The Wawa Foundation
The
Wawa Foundation is an extension of Wawa’s commitment to fulfilling
lives every day. The Wawa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation
founded to support Wawa, Inc.’s charitable giving and philanthropic activities
– and ultimately to help build happier, stronger communities. The Wawa
Foundation focuses its support on non-profit organizations committed to
health, hunger and everyday heroes through local, regional and national
grants. Since the inception of The Wawa Foundation in 2014, The Wawa Foundation
and Wawa have contributed more than $160 million to non-profit community
organizations.
Media
Contact:
Lori
Bruce
Public
Relations Manager
Wawa,
Inc.
610-405-7782 |
