Friends Of The Wissahickon Wins $10,000

PHILADELPHIA – We recently told you about a chance for the Friends of the Wissahickon to win $100,000 through the NRG Gives program. And now the results are in after more than 300,000 votes were cast in the crowdsourced contest.

While the Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) didn't win the grand prize, they came in second place in the contest, earning them $10,000.

"We are so appreciative of NRG’s nomination, and even more so for the outpouring of support from our community," said Maura McCarthy, FOW’s executive director. "The donation is a much-needed boost toward our work managing the park’s most pressing needs."

>>RELATED: Wissahickon Park Cleanup Events Set For June 3

DREAM Philadelphia took first place, giving them that large grand prize.

DREAM Philadelphia’s mission is to build communities of families and college students to empower youth from affordable housing neighborhoods to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams.

Career Wardrobe, an organization that empowers women to work by providing the professional clothing and professional development opportunities that instill self-confidence – finished third, earning themselves $5,000 through the program.

The NRG Gives program was introduced in 2016 to expand the company’s community outreach across Pennsylvania and empower the public to help support selected community nonprofits.

NRG employees nominated a wide selection of organizations, which were narrowed to three finalists and the public voted for the nonprofit of their choice.

Founded in 1924, FOW is dedicated to preserving the natural landscape of Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park.

Professional staff and dedicated volunteers work diligently with a range of experts to preserve and restore this special environment while mitigating the erosion that threatens the park and stormwater runoff affecting the Wissahickon Creek, which provides drinking water for 350,000 Philadelphians.

Image via Friends of the Wissahickon